The Best Checklist for New Writers on Medium

Do you want a valuable checklist with helpful advice?

The 25 writing and publishing related tips contained in this story are like a goldmine! They’re designed to help new members and writers on Medium get off to the best start possible.

Before you start beating your head against the wall, trying to figure out the best way to write, publish, and earn money on Medium, be sure to read this story first.

Trust me when I say, it could save you a lot of trouble from having to discover things on your own, the hard way.

As you already know, Medium provides an opportunity not only to have people read and respond to your writing, but it also gives you the chance to earn some money, but only when you learn the ropes.

Just how hard is it to make that really happen? Let’s consider it for a moment.

Why will some new members feel disillusioned?

If you happen to be one of those new members who is anxious to get started writing and earning on Medium, you may not be as excited as you originally were.

Unfortunately for some individuals, the appeal of writing on Medium is starting to wear off. This may have happened when they realized there were some new obstacles and necessary steps they need to take on the platform.

But just because a little effort is involved in getting your new writing career off the ground, doesn’t mean it’s impossible for you to start writing and earning money on Medium.

Don’t waste another moment worrying about getting started. The information contained in this story will tell you everything you need to know, but only if you’re serious about putting in the work.

If you want to succeed in writing and publishing the type of stories that people will read, the information I’m about to share is guaranteed to help.

Start learning today, and take advantage of this valuable checklist that’s also full of useful advice and writing tips that you won’t want to miss.

Why should you become a Medium member and start learning right away?

If you’re a brand new Medium member, you should want to start ticking off boxes on the checklist as soon as possible.

This is because of the new follower quota that Medium has put into place. The policy says that new members won’t be able to start earning any cash until they obtain 100 followers. You’ll also have to have at least one story posted.

Under the circumstances, the sooner you become a member, the sooner you can get started obtaining the necessary number of followers you need.

That’s why it’s so important for you to read over the entire Checklist. I want you to discover all the different ways it can help you get started, and also keep you on track.

If you’re an existing Medium member, but you want to improve in certain areas, this 25 Item Checklist can still be helpful. I’m positive that even existing writers on Medium will be able to find multiple items on the list that they can benefit from.

What help does this checklist designed to help writers on Medium provide?

The only things this Checklist contains are necessary steps to getting started. Among the listed items, and the tidbits of writing advice, you’ll find some useful links.

Some of these necessary steps are followed by a link that contains more details. These links will take you to a story that goes a little deeper into the topic.

My advice is that you visit the links and read all the stories as soon as you get a chance, or at least bookmark the stories for future reference.

I’m only going to help you understand what you need to do, and the best order to do it in. So unless you already know exactly how to perform certain tasks, you should take time to read the stories that are cited in this guide.

Here are suggested steps, beginning with when you first sign up on Medium to become a writer:

#1 Become a Medium member by registering and paying the $5 monthly membership.

#2 Create a profile, and say something about yourself, keeping in mind that it will appear alongside all the stories you plan to write.

#3 Select publications to follow. One way is to start at the Medium “home” page and simply type the word publications in the search box. You can also select publications to follow, at the same time you select a writer whose story is published in a publication.

#4 Select writers to follow. You can visit the Medium home page and click on stories of interest. As you read stories, click the green follow button to follow a writer, and ALSO notice whether you see the name of a publication in the header (or just above the additional green button to the left of the story).

#5 Start engaging with the writers you choose to follow by clapping, AND commenting on stories, and remember you can follow up to 150 writers a day, so be proactive about building your following.

#6 Work to meet the 100 follower quota, by engaging with other members and their stories, and help others in the process.

#7 Start writing stories on your Medium story dashboard, and get familiar with the settings, features, and icons available in story writing and draft mode, before publishing your story.

#8 Select the appropriate tags for your stories and make sure you understand exactly how to use them.

#9 Enter the Google related SEO details in “more settings” by providing a “kicker” sentence.

#10 Write the types of titles that stand out from other writers and don’t forget the tags.

#11 Analyze your story title for free, to see how well it will perform. Tweak it if necessary. Do it using the Capitalize My Title website.

#12 Make sure to create a story conclusion that helps gain you the most read time.

#13 Create a standard footer for the end of your stories and insert your promotional links (website, social media, or other online activities). Use the footer as a model and always include it in your stories.

#14 Include your membership referral link in your footer and be proactive in promoting it at every opportunity.

#15 Consider submitting to publications that publish the kind of stories you write. Pay attention to how long they take to accept and publish stories.

#16 Follow the rules about submitting to Medium publications, and know what to expect from them. Be sure to read their submission details.

#17 Consider creating your own publication, and if you decide to create one, think about whether or not you want to accept submissions.

#18 Strategically publish your stories in a way that will provide the most exposure. Even if you have your own publication, make sure you understand what happens if you stop publishing stories to your profile.

#19 Write and submit stories on a regular basis (either self published or to a publication); daily if possible, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Whatever your routine is, try to be consistent so your followers know when to expect something new from you.

#20 Prepare and store drafts on your Medium story dashboard so they’re practically ready to publish. Use this policy to compile story ideas that you can work on at the drop of a hat and when time permits.

#21 Write in batches and schedule stories for future publishing so you can take a break. When you feel in a super writing mood, write multiple stories, save them, and schedule them to publish on a future date; giving yourself a writing cushion.

#22 Look for creative ways to help you be more productive, like creating story outlines and making visible notes and reminders to keep you on track.

#23 Engage with followers in a meaningful way and remember the benefits that will result. Claps, responses and reading other writers’ stories are all super important and should not be taken for granted.

#24 Commit to your Medium writer profile and share your writing business with everyone online. Once you’re ready to take your writing career to the next level, perform as many promotional activities as possible.

#25 ALWAYS Exercise balance and common sense when it comes to your health and your writing productivity.

THAT ENDS THIS CHECKLIST AND SO BEGINS YOUR MEDIUM JOURNEY…

Final Thoughts

Many other writers on Medium have created their own versions of checklists and best practices to help new members get started.

I realize that readers have a choice of countless other stories, so I appreciate you taking the time to consider this one.

I hope the items and advice cited on my checklist will prove to be as beneficial to you as I believe they will. These tips are in no way the end of all the things you need to learn about Medium. I’m continuing to learn, just like all of you. As I discover more and more useful information, I’ll continue to provide helpful advice that others can use and pass on.

As you embark and continue on your Medium journey, please remember:

• Proper formatting and helpful content are only two important story elements that you should be aware of. Pay attention to the rest.
• Many things need to happen with your story before you’re ready to hit publish and send it out into the world.
• Give proper consideration to when to self publish your own stories, versus when and where to submit them, when adding them to a publication.
• Never underestimate the value of engaging with followers and showing appreciation for your readers.
• Don’t assume writing and publishing your stories is the end of your duties, if you want to be more visible and earn more money for your stories.

DEAR READER: I always enjoy talking to writers on writing. Enjoy the advice when you find it useful. I write to help writers on Medium get more exposure. Whether you prefer self publishing all your stories, or you submit them to Medium publications, you can still benefit from the information. Use any related tips and you’ll begin to notice a great deal of self improvement, when it comes to your writing productivity.

Check out the 348 stories I published since I started writing on Medium. | Let’s be friends on TWITTER: @GoodeWriter

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