The 7 Key Lessons I’ve Learned Publishing 200 Articles
This is article #200!
I started on Medium in January 2023. Back then, I didn’t know how to work the platform. I was simply posting articles as part of the Ship 30 for 30 cohort.
I didn’t understand anything about the Partner Program or how to get people to read my writing.
But, I eventually began to piece things together and started building a community of followers and earning through the Partner Program, too.
While I’m no Eve Arnold (quite the opposite, actually), I have learned some things that I think can help you.
Here are the 7 key lessons I’ve learned writing and publishing 200 articles.
1. Everything is content.
I believe Tim Denning is credited with saying this, but I’ve discovered how true it is.
Content can come from your everyday life:
Or it can come from things you learn along the way:
The more I read other people’s articles and comments, and the more I write, publish, post, and analyze my own stuff, the more content I have.
It’s a never-ending stream!
It may take you a little time to get the ball rolling, but once it does, there won’t be an end in sight.
Which brings me to the second lesson…
2. Consistency always wins.
When I started posting consistently, that’s when everything changed for me.
I started posting almost daily last November. This allowed the algorithm to pick up more of my articles, which it then placed in front of more people.
Posting more articles consistently also allowed me to test different types of content (and different lengths) and see what worked best.
The more you write, the more information you have.
Consistency always wins!
Or, as my friend Matt Brady says in this article:
Agreed, Matt!
3. Engagement is important.
Besides writing consistently, I also started connecting with other Medium writers by reading, clapping, highlighting, and commenting on their articles every day.
This is so important.
Not only is it good to support other writers, but they will often support you back. This is a win-win for everyone.
My lesson within this lesson is:
Engage with articles and accounts you are genuinely interested in.
If you’re not interested in a topic, it’s going to show in your comments.
There are about a gazillion articles on Medium (that’s a fact-checked number). Find the ones that you are truly interested in. This is how you build a legit community and following.
4. Imposter syndrome is real.
When imposter syndrome strikes, it can make you feel unworthy. It’s a tough mental hurdle that even the most successful people sometimes deal with.
I started to gain a little success on Medium, and it was very uncomfortable at first.
The biggest way I found to combat it is to save any positive comments I got to a folder on my desktop.
Any time I receive a nice comment, or if something good happens (like an article getting curated), I take a screenshot and save it.
That way, I can go back and remind myself that my content is resonating with people and it’s OK to feel good about it.
I appreciate all the positive feedback, and I’m glad to say it feels more “normal” now.
5. People on Medium love these types of articles.
Much to the dismay of many people in the comments on Medium, people love to read articles about making money on Medium.
I love reading these articles too! It’s exciting to know what’s possible.
But there are other topics people seem to love reading:
- Challenges, especially ones with big, audacious goals
- Mistakes to avoid
- Writing tips
- How-to guides
- Lessons you’ve learned through experimenting
People want to get better and transform some part of their lives, and they love reading about other people who did it or are in the process of doing it.
6. Things change a lot.
Never solely rely on Medium for your income. It’s a fantastic way to:
- find like-minded people
- promote your products
- get people on your newsletter list
- sharpen your writing skills
- find out the topics that resonate with people
And they pay you on top of all that, which is fantastic!
But things change a lot around here.
You might have an awesome month or two where everything is shooting up into the stratosphere and you’re ready to buy a beach house on a tropical island.
And then reads, views, and earnings drop like a bomb the following month. (I’m currently going through that.)
Just keep writing and appreciate whatever comes your way.
7. The most important lesson.
I always add this to everything because this is my sole purpose on the Earth:
Have fun!
I recently created a Gene Keys chart, and it literally says this is my purpose:
But I also feel it’s my purpose to spread the message of fun.
People take life way too seriously sometimes. I always say:
We’re not solving world peace. We’re just writing on the internet.
Why not have fun with it?
Write stories that show the real you, not the stuffy Grammarly version of you.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, these are my 7 biggest lessons after posting 200 articles on Medium:
- Everything is content.
- Consistency always wins.
- Engagement is important.
- Imposter syndrome is real.
- People on Medium love certain topics.
- Things change a lot.
- Have fun with it all.
I hope these tips help you, and here’s to 200 more articles! I’m sure I’ll have more lessons by then.
What’s the #1 lesson you’ve learned by writing on Medium?
About the Author
Hey! I’m Christina, an introverted book nerd on the outside, and a raging metalhead on the inside. 🤘 I’m a married mom to two teenagers (and 3 cats and a dog). I love Vegas 🎰, the band Chevelle 🎸, and murder mysteries 📖.