Today, I Celebrate 4 Months Since My First Story on Medium

Reflecting on the things I have gained and learned

Today is 21st December 2021.

It’s winter solstice here in the northern hemisphere. Hence, the shortest and — bar weather influences and solar eclipses — the darkest day of the year.

A perfect day to reflect on the year gone by.

It also happens to be the 4-month-i-versary of me publishing stories on Medium. So, I thought I would take a moment to take a look at my journey so far and celebrate some milestones achieved.

1. Stories published

First off is the count to date of my published stories.

The grand total is…122!

On September 10th, I published my seventh story, and first in a publication (because I didn’t even know how to become a writer for them, or how to submit).

That first publication to publish my work was New Writers Welcome, the creation of Robert Ralph, who has, to date, now helped hundreds of new writers to the platform to get published and get to grips with the platform.

On that day, I happened to read a story of someone’s account of writing 30 stories in 30 days, in 30 different publications. That led me to find other stories of writers who challenged themselves to publish daily, and it was the first time I came across Kristina God.

Kristina had challenged herself to do that back in April and had managed to write and publish 24 in a month. She particularly inspired me since, like me, she is a mother and has to fit writing into pockets of time.

So, that day, I decided that I would set myself a goal to publish 30 stories in 30 days.

I never looked back.

It was hard at first but it has become easier over the weeks that have passed. It is now 102 days since that date and I have published 115 in that time.

2. Giving community support

A phrase that has lodged in my mind since the first Medium Writer’s webinar that I attended was one that highlighted the importance of

“being a good citizen.”

Reading, clapping, highlighting, commenting with thoughtful responses, and following those with whom you resonate all count towards being a good Medium citizen.

It is about giving to the network and to other writers as much as it is about gaining the readership of others.

I love reading the work of some of the incredible writers and thought-leaders here in the space. I love having the excuse to just read and absorb.

That isn’t any effort on my part. It’s just pure pleasure.

In addition, I offered my services as an editor for the New Writer’s Welcome publication when Robert was looking for support and, while it has made my schedule all that busier, it has been immensely rewarding to fill this role.

Even more rewarding has been being part of what Robert refers to as his “A-Team”, along with other incredible writers Marilyn Glover, Andrey Pilipets, Dazzling Shene and Francesca Dallaglio.

3. Receiving support and accountability

In early November, I was offered a place in Kristina God’s Online Writing Bootcamp. Of course, I gladly jumped in.

At the time I still felt like I was travelling solo in the middle of an ocean on a homemade raft, but all of that changed.

Kristina offered some gentle guidance, space to ask questions, a community to share wins, and a way to stay accountable to my own goals.

I made new friends with some total badass writers, and I am so grateful for the same kick up the butt that Trisha Dunbar (She/Her) wrote about.

As well as Kristina and Trisha, I wish to acknowledge and thank Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Alicia Domínguez, Courtney Simms, Tamil, Charles Waters, Nancy Blackman and jeanninekauffmann/poems in the raw for all the chats, laughs, encouragement, and general learning. You’re all awesome!

4. Followers, views, reads and fans

Although I think these are not numbers we should be clinging to as a measure of our progress, they do, nonetheless, reflect our journey.

I want to emphasise that you should never compare your stats with anyone else’s. Everyone takes a different journey and there can be no comparison.

I have not “begged” or solicited for followers. I don’t clap and run on other people’s work in the hopes of them coming and looking at mine.

I have only ever wanted authentic followers because I want authentic readers. Simple as that.

But my efforts in regular, considered writing and publishing, and in being a good citizen, have paid off. In four months I have gone from:

• 14 followers to 742
• 140 monthly views in month one to 5,400 in month four
• 92 reads in month one to 3,034 in month four
• 20 fans in month one to 984 in month four

As for earnings, I have decided that I do not wish to disclose exact figures.

Again, we are all starting in different places and take different journeys. Another’s experience is not something by which to measure your progress.

Some were in a position to join the Partner Program on day one while others, like me, had to earn the required number of followers before we applied.

Some came here as established or experienced writers while others are dabbling for the first time.

But, what I will disclose is that I have earned three figures by putting in the time, effort, and dedication, yet not ever having a viral article.

It’s effort and authenticity that counts.

Closing thoughts

As we prepare to go into a new year, I have a lot to be grateful to the Medium platform and community for.

These first four months have just been the beginning of the journey and I fully intend to keep growing my writing, my community, and my ability to lift and support others as we go into 2022.

I would love to hear from you about anything that this article may have highlighted for you about your own journey. What are you grateful for so far? And what do you desire to implement in the coming weeks and months?

If you aren’t yet a Medium member and would love to have unlimited access to read the work of all your favourite writers, please consider joining through my referral link.

Check out some of my other stories: