Top Takeaways from 200+ posts on Medium.

Summary

A seasoned writer reflects on the diverse benefits and insights gained from publishing over 200 posts on Medium, emphasizing the importance of motivation, finding one's voice, and leveraging the platform beyond monetary gain.

Abstract

The author, having published extensively on Medium and other platforms since 2016, shares key takeaways from their writing experience. While acknowledging that writing has provided financial benefits, they stress that the platform offers much more, such as networking opportunities, brand strengthening, and unique experiences. The reflections serve as encouragement for other writers to look beyond immediate monetization and focus on the value of finding their purpose, developing a unique voice, and maintaining consistency. The author advises on creating a writing system, balancing quality and quantity, engaging with the community, adhering to platform rules, and building a personal brand and email list. They also caution against obsessing over metrics like follower counts and curation rates, advocating for a balanced perspective on success and failure.

Opinions

Writing should be driven by a clear purpose to maintain motivation.
New writers should view Medium as a space to experiment and find their niche without the initial pressure to monetize.
Uniqueness is crucial; while learning from successful writers is beneficial, one should avoid imitation.
Consistency in writing is key to success, and a structured writing system can facilitate this.
Both the quality and quantity of content matter, regardless of algorithm changes.
Engaging with the Medium community can open doors to valuable connections and opportunities.
Respecting and adapting to platform rules is important, even when they change frequently.
Building a personal brand and an email list is essential for long-term success and independence from platform changes.
Writers should not fixate on metrics like follower counts or views, as they provide limited insights into true progress or success.
A balanced mindset is necessary to handle both success and failure without letting it affect one's self-worth or writing journey.

Reflections Useful for Other Writers…

I recently completed 200+ posts on Medium and 600+ responses! I’ve been writing on some platform or the other since 2016 (including my own blogs and ebooks on Amazon).

Writing makes me some money but has indirectly opened a world of opportunities via connections, strengthening my brand, and wonderful new experiences. Too often, however, “money via Medium” is the only thing that is publicized. Here are some reflections that will hopefully keep you on this platform even if you are not making hundreds of dollars (yet)!

Start with why. That will keep you motivated.

Don’t focus on monetization from day one. Use this as a testbed — the easiest time to find your voice and niche is when you are new and can make mistakes!

Be unique. Learn the techniques that work for top writers but do NOT become a copycat!

Create a Writing System. Consistency is key.

Quality and quantity BOTH count. Irrespective of how and when the algorithm changes!

Leverage the community. You are being given the opportunity to tap into a huge audience of potential readers and writer-friends. It is similar to the first day of college — no one knows your history and there are hundreds of classmates who may become future Presidents, NYT bestselling authors, or other world leaders. Make friends for life!

Play nice with the platform rules. Yes, they may change often — but take it in your stride. You don’t own the platform, being gracious is the least you can do!

Build your brand and email list. Especially because of #6.

Stop obsessing over follower counts, page views, curation rates, or the correlation between views and monetization! Monitor them for progress against your past work, but know that you are working with incomplete information!

Don’t let success or failure go to your head.