Two Months on Medium, the Learning Process Goes On

Writing and reading on Medium is part of a more broad process of learning and self-improvement.

A Step Back on How Everything Began

I must admit I was skeptical about Medium. I came across the platform only a few times in the past, and only when I saw Shelby Church’s video, I decided to give it a try.

There aren’t a lot of information about Medium outside the platform. A few writers are doing Youtube’s video, but I’ve realized that if I want to learn how Medium works, I have to read other user’s pieces.

The More You Learn, the More You Improve

Medium is in constant evolution; it’s an example that once writers’ earnings were based on claps and now on reading time. I really don’t get those who are mad about the number of views. What’s the point in having a million followers, claps, and views if people don’t actually spend time reading what you write?

Read pieces of other authors, see how they write, how they structure their articles. Being on Medium for the money or for the glory doesn’t matter. Improvement must be your goal!

The more you read, the more you write, the more you improve. Things will fall into place on their own with time.

Of course, people are making more money than you in less time. Still, everyone’s path is different, even if sometimes it is frustrating. I get frustrated every now and then because of this.

What to Write About

The great thing about Medium is that you can choose to pick a niche or not. You can literally write about everything you want and the freedom to choose your own way to express yourself.

Organize your pieces into publications (yours or others) or not.

Write something useful to the readers, something worth reading, or just tell about something that happened to you.

If you want to reach a broad audience, do your research, find sources to quote, take care of SEO, and create high-value content even if you’re targeting a specific niche.

Edit and Edit Again

I find quite boring editing my own pieces. But I’m trying to do it more times than I used to. It helps me catch errors and sharpen my article.

Write a day, edit the day after. I find this technique to be the best.

Organize your time into writing time and editing time. Don’t write and edit an article on the same day. This practice will help you see what you have written with different eyes and a fresh mind.

Don’t rush, I feel you. I’m very impatient. I would love to write and immediately see my piece approved. Forgive your essay for a few days and even weeks if you apply to big publications.

Your Failure, Your Success

The piece you spent hours editing and consider your masterpiece, can turn into an epic flop and gain nothing more than your monthly Medium Membership. The opposite can happen to something you wrote in a rush, a piece you create from the heart but with no research or zero effort.

Medium isn’t based only on SEO and algorithms. Medium is made by people with different interests.

Curious and smart people always looking for new things to learn, improve themselves, and be impressed by something original and out of the ordinary.

Share Share Share

Your job doesn’t end when you post your piece. You can’t expect the magic of SEO and human curiosity to work on their own.

Create a Twitter profile, join Facebook groups, use Pinterest.

Share your content with the world and gain precious followers.

Build a network with other writers, support each other by reading, clapping, commenting and sharing. Growing together is much easier than growing alone!

Curation and Big Publications

When I started writing on Medium, curation, and big publications were the two main topics.

How do I get curated? How do I get into large publications with a massive amount of followers?

Reading comments of writers on Facebook groups who got curated or have seen their work published along with some big Medium’s name, I’ve realized how much expectation there is.

I’m not saying it isn’t exciting or that I don’t wish to see my pieces curated. I’m just saying those writers didn’t get all those views and money I, and probably them too, presumed.

Keep Writing

They say constant is the key to success on Medium.

I’m a disaster! I’m moody, I’m tired, I’m busy. Like you and anyone else.

So be better than me and keep writing, no matter what, no matter the topic.

Some days it will be harder, change topic, change approach. Reinvent yourself and start again.

Go back to the things you like to write about and do it again from a different perspective. Ask for feedback, but never give up!

Almost two months and I’m still here

I’m changing, adapting, hopefully improving. Writing every now and then, trying to edit more (I hate to read stuff over and over again).

I’m also reposting on Medium posts of my blog.

I’m making really a little money, I’ve joined four publications (sorry if I haven’t added anything lately), I haven’t been curated (do I still care?).

Time to Say Thank You

Instead of tagging people just to drive traffic to this piece, I will say a big thank you to all the readers and writers who are sharing their amazing articles with me and investing time to read mine.

Thank you to those who gave me the chance to join their publications and to those who are giving me tips outside the Medium platform.

The truth is, we aren’t going anywhere without each other.