The Witches’s Brew to the Medium Partner Program Bonus
The winning recipe could be as simple as polishing your first 100 words.
The Medium Partner Program Bonus isn’t just for the big boys. Maybe some well-known writers here were also part of the winning circle of writers given the $500 bonus for April and May.
But I am here to tell you that I don’t consider myself one of the star writers here (yet), and I made the “cut” twice.
First, in April, I received the $500 bonus. Then, my rank fell below the top 1,000 writers in May, but I still received $100. In both instances, none of my stories were viral.
In my whole Medium writer’s journey, May is the first month that I breached the $100 earnings in the Medium Partner Program.
Arigato Money, Arigato Medium.
So if you are disheartened that you haven’t made the cut and are contemplating quitting, suppose I can offer you a piece of advice not to leave and continue writing.
I write fast, and I write as many as 50 articles in a month. I don’t say to do the same, which will get you the money reward for June.
We don’t know how it works.
All I can say, for May, Medium has revised its rules after receiving “complaints” from writers who were not given the bonus.
One of the quotes I live by,
When we complain, we disconnect.
And when we start complaining, it takes time away from writing stories. I have (yet) to reach 1,000 followers on Medium. But, I have yet to write a viral story, the one that can pay the mortgage. Still, I try my best to get the elusive Chosen for Further Distribution badge or be Medium curated.
While in the past, I have written how being Chosen for Further Distribution doesn’t guarantee virality and that you still don’t need to publish your stories in major publications, which I wrote a story about that being fixated on trying to get published in these big publications might hurt your chances of achieving your Medium goals.
While I said that money doesn’t come from being distributed, the algorithm doesn’t necessarily make your stories reach more eyeballs. Therefore, it is useless to try to decode how the Medium algorithm works.
Medium curation is one of the ingredients in my recipe for success as a Medium writer.
Criteria for the Medium Partner Program Bonus Update
This past month, you were in the top 1,500 writers in the Partner Program. Congratulations! To celebrate your achievement, we’re rewarding you with a $100 bonus.
When we awarded bonuses in April, we heard from writers that the criteria for qualifying weren’t clear. We listened, and for May, we simplified how we picked. Now, bonuses are based solely on the top writers in the Partner Program in a specific month.
Medium members are drawn to thought-provoking writing from a diverse array of voices. So to remain a top Partner Program writer, we recommend regularly publishing unique stories for members to explore, read, and love. In other words, keep doing what you’re doing!
– Your friends at Medium
Top Writer Badge
What does it mean to be a top writer?
74 tags can help you get the top writer badge, and the recipe is simple, write as many stories about a specific tag that you can rank among its top 50 writers. It also helps, although I have no solid proof that when your story gets the Chosen for Further Distribution badge, it helps you get the top writer badge.
There are 50 slots for each tag or topic that can get you to become a top writer, the competition is fierce, but there are low-lying fruits you need to discover. One of these topics is … cooking which as of June 2021 has only 14 top writers.
J.J. Pryor wrote a story about it — So You Want to Get a Top Writer Award? Here’s the Quickest Way to Do That. (Check it out!)
First 100 Words
In a world that we live in, it is easy to lose our attention and go to the next thing. That is why we swipe “next,” and if our story isn’t strong enough, in the first 20 seconds, people will abandon reading our story.
It is why I am trying my best to polish my first 100 words. As a new writer, none of my readers know me personally, and I have to do better by offering something that the audience wants.
Information and Entertainment.
Also, when you publish your stories in your own Medium publication or with any publication, when you receive an email about a story, Medium truncates it to the first 100 words.
For readers to click and read further, the story must pique their imagination or interest.
The Witches’ Brew to the Medium Partner Program Bonus
The truth is, there is no one secret recipe. What works for me may not work for you. But my top three ingredients to my Witches Brew.
- Medium Curation
- Top Writer Badge
- First 100 Words
Personally, I add a little piece of my heart when I write. Nothing beats a joyful writer. I also ask my MOM in heaven for guidance.
Whatever works, as I work my way to my Medium success.
