The Newbie Introduction to Writing for Medium

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edium member. However, writers can share free links to their articles, and I think you can read for free from a link posted on Twitter. Twitter and Medium are well integrated.</p><p id="a40e"><a href="https://help.medium.com/hc/en-us/articles/225168028-Using-Medium"><i>More information about creating an account.</i></a></p><p id="e61a">As you create your account, you can customize your interests, create a bio, add your picture, and connect to other social media accounts. You can always go back and edit your bio and account information later. My big suggestion is to create a username that is similar to the name(s) you use on other social media accounts for consistency (unless you are writing under a pen name, of course).</p><h2 id="1cf2">Write your first article</h2><p id="33d1">Do not stress too much about writing your first article. Any “story” (as Medium calls them) can be edited or deleted later. You can also save a story as a draft if you aren’t ready to publish yet. Think of this first story as your chance to play around with formatting and try things out.</p><p id="3909">Writing my first article was all it took for me to personally fall in love with Medium’s platform. The formatting, compared to times I have tried to mess with coding on personal blogs and websites, is so easy. The standard template that everyone works from makes writing for Medium very user-friendly.</p><p id="5a0f">You’ll want to check out websites with free stock photos like <a href="https://unsplash.com/">Unsplash</a> and <a href="https://www.pexels.com/">Pexels</a>. In addition, you may want to read other Medium stories as a model for formatting. I am learning as I go, but after writing only a few stories, I felt like I understood the process.</p><p id="5a6f">Here is another comprehensive how-to article about writing for Medium that you may find helpful: <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/a-quick-guide-to-medium-9f61864ab26">A Quick Guide to Medium.</a></p><h2 id="9b59">Follow other writers on Medium</h2><p id="74e1

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">One thing I have learned about Medium is that following others (and eventually developing your own following) is part of the community. This means that things may move slowly for you at first as you build content and learn the ropes, but if you’re patient, it does not have to feel like a chore. Focus on writing good content, learning about curation and publications, and if you’re following others, users on the site will start to follow you, too.</p><p id="e8a6">I make an effort to follow (and clap or highlight) for at least three Medium writers each day. That’s a pretty small number, but I am okay with moving slowly for now. My original goal was to have 100 followers (an arbitrary number) in my first month and I surpassed that goal sooner than expected. It helped that I joined a Facebook group for other Medium writers to share content and ask questions.</p><p id="41e2">There is so much to learn: clapping, highlighting, curation, publications, and, of course, making money (if you’re into that kind of thing). I have made a small bit of money, enough to make it feel worth pursuing (though I’m definitely not in it for the cash). I make well over the five dollars it costs to be a member due to writing on a consistent basis, promoting my work, and submitting to publications.</p><p id="52dd">I am excited about the possibilities on a site like Medium. Medium has a much bigger audience (and bigger reach) than my blog. Some writers have really found a home on the site. I hope that you’ll be one of those writers, too.</p><h2 id="a8d8">More links to get you started</h2><p id="c1c8">About Medium publications</p><p id="7b22"><a href="https://help.medium.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012095528-About-Medium-publications">About Medium Publications</a></p><p id="af60"><a href="https://readmedium.com/tips-for-writing-medium-articles-df8d7c7b33bf">Tips for writing Medium articles</a></p><p id="75d2"><a href="https://findingtom.com/how-to-get-paid-on-medium/">How to Get Paid on Medium as a blogger</a></p></article></body>

New to Medium? Start with baby steps.

Here’s the good news. You’ve made it this far. You clicked on this article which means you’re curious about writing for Medium. I was in the same situation not too long ago. I heard about Medium and I had read articles that others posted online. I think I even stumbled upon a Medium article or two in a general Google search. And then one day I just decided to give it a try. It was one of my more impulsive decisions, something I signed up for without knowing what I was doing.

So far, I am loving it. I have made a little bit of cash, met new people, shared my writing with a much larger audience than my blog, and I have gained so much confidence in my writing skills.

I still don’t know everything because I am a newbie, too, but that means the basics are fresh in my mind and I can guide you through the very early baby steps. Since there is an overwhelming amount of information out there about writing for Medium. I will make sure to share a few links that helped me. If you’re ready.

Are you ready?

Make an account

If we’re already moving too fast for you and you aren’t sure you even want to make an account, start by clicking around. Check out Medium’s articles and publications, especially the ones in your field of interest (for me: writing, books, education). As of early 2020, you can only read five free articles unless you are a paying Medium member. However, writers can share free links to their articles, and I think you can read for free from a link posted on Twitter. Twitter and Medium are well integrated.

As you create your account, you can customize your interests, create a bio, add your picture, and connect to other social media accounts. You can always go back and edit your bio and account information later. My big suggestion is to create a username that is similar to the name(s) you use on other social media accounts for consistency (unless you are writing under a pen name, of course).

Write your first article

Do not stress too much about writing your first article. Any “story” (as Medium calls them) can be edited or deleted later. You can also save a story as a draft if you aren’t ready to publish yet. Think of this first story as your chance to play around with formatting and try things out.

Writing my first article was all it took for me to personally fall in love with Medium’s platform. The formatting, compared to times I have tried to mess with coding on personal blogs and websites, is so easy. The standard template that everyone works from makes writing for Medium very user-friendly.

You’ll want to check out websites with free stock photos like Unsplash and Pexels. In addition, you may want to read other Medium stories as a model for formatting. I am learning as I go, but after writing only a few stories, I felt like I understood the process.

Here is another comprehensive how-to article about writing for Medium that you may find helpful: A Quick Guide to Medium.

Follow other writers on Medium

One thing I have learned about Medium is that following others (and eventually developing your own following) is part of the community. This means that things may move slowly for you at first as you build content and learn the ropes, but if you’re patient, it does not have to feel like a chore. Focus on writing good content, learning about curation and publications, and if you’re following others, users on the site will start to follow you, too.

I make an effort to follow (and clap or highlight) for at least three Medium writers each day. That’s a pretty small number, but I am okay with moving slowly for now. My original goal was to have 100 followers (an arbitrary number) in my first month and I surpassed that goal sooner than expected. It helped that I joined a Facebook group for other Medium writers to share content and ask questions.

There is so much to learn: clapping, highlighting, curation, publications, and, of course, making money (if you’re into that kind of thing). I have made a small bit of money, enough to make it feel worth pursuing (though I’m definitely not in it for the cash). I make well over the five dollars it costs to be a member due to writing on a consistent basis, promoting my work, and submitting to publications.

I am excited about the possibilities on a site like Medium. Medium has a much bigger audience (and bigger reach) than my blog. Some writers have really found a home on the site. I hope that you’ll be one of those writers, too.