Why There’s More to Writing on Medium than Metrics

Even though it’s hard to resist caring about the stats

Wow. I finally did it. I’ve read so many articles here on Medium about “how to succeed here on Medium” and it’s finally my turn to write about how I earned more than a few dollars in one month. I’d love to say that I’ve cracked the code, discovered a way to reach and engage more readers, but I honestly do not know why one of my pieces was viewed over 27,000 times and paid out close to $900 in one month.

Here’s what I do know.

I started writing on Medium in June after leaving my full-time job to try to make a go of a freelance writing career.

My first article received 460 views, with a 50% read rate, and I enjoyed the feedback I received. Even though I only earned one cent that first month, I instantly felt part of a community and decided this was a great platform to help me develop a regular writing routine, interact with other authors, and to explore issues I’m passionate about. So, when most of my subsequent articles failed to cross the threshold of even 100 readers, I tried not to get discouraged and pushed forward.

I floundered around, trying to discover my niche. Sometimes I wrote about world events. Other times I mused about my dreams of becoming a published author, my career changes, or my battle with cancer. And mostly I wrote about parenting. Lots of what I read on Medium suggested I pick a lane, but in the next breath advised on writing and publishing frequently. Daily. How was I ever going to accomplish both things at once? There’s only so much I could say about any of my chosen subjects, and I quickly felt like I was developing Attention Deficit Disorder — who’d want to follow an author who jumped from topic to topic without one actual area of expertise?

Trying a new lens.

Somewhere along the way, I shifted my perspective. I stopped dreaming that I could generate enough revenue on Medium to justify walking away from a lucrative job in philanthropy. My monthly earnings were still cumulatively less than $30, and $8.06 was the most I’d made in a singular month. Was I getting discouraged? Yes. But not enough to throw in the towel.

I knew in my heart that I was missing the point, having to remind myself over and over that the benefits of being a Medium writer go far beyond monetary earnings. But that hadn’t stopped me from checking the statistics several times a day, constantly refreshing my browser every time I published a new piece to make sure I wasn’t missing a new view or a new follower.

There’s something about the data that provides validation, makes us feel as if our writing is good and our time spent is worthwhile. At least that’s how it is for me. I wish I could say validation isn’t important, but after years of getting my novels rejected, and trying everything in my power to land a literary agent that believes in me, part of my journey continues to be searching for someone to say, “Hey, you’re writing’s not half bad.”

Over time, I’ve learned to be less obsessive-compulsive about the metrics, limiting my trip to the Stats page to once a day — maybe twice. And then it happened. My grandmother was right — a watched pot never boils.

And then it happened.

One morning I opened up my statistics and noticed that one of my articles was being widely distributed and read. I had already received notifications that readers were highlighting, clapping, and commenting — many of them saying how much they could relate to my thoughts and how much they enjoyed the piece. The momentum kept growing all throughout the month. Before you knew it, I’d earned a top writer badge in “Parenting,” the article’s views had exceeded 20,000 and my earnings for the month had surpassed the value of my car payment — times two. Pinch me. I still can’t believe how that happened.

And I’m not sure why this piece connected with others, more so than anything else I’ve published on the platform. Was it the title? The content? The timing, or just luck? I can conjure up enough theories to fill a football stadium (before social distancing), but I’ve decided to just enjoy the ride.

If you’d like to form your own theory, check out the article here:

Why should you care?

I share this story not to brag — anyone who knows me knows that I’ve always been uncomfortable putting myself out there, which is partly why trying to market myself as an author hasn’t come easy. One reason I enjoy writing so much is that it’s a solitary activity — I can sit alone with my laptop without having to shake hands or kiss ass — things I had to do for years in my old profession and that I don’t miss one bit.

But I’m learning that line of thinking may be naïve. Networking is just as much a part of writing if you want to get published as any other career. That’s one reason engaging with other writers on Medium is so important. I tried to respond to all the comments on my piece that went viral, and I’m getting better at carving out time each week to read and support everyone else’s work too.

I am sharing this story to offer encouragement. I have no words of wisdom about why one piece gets noticed — or even curated — and another does not. But there’s value in every piece written. It’s no small feat to compile your thoughts, your experiences, and your reflections to share with the world. It’s brave. It’s scary. And it’s a great way to continually improve upon your craft.

The best advice anyone has ever given me about becoming a writer came early in my quest to write a full-length novel. I was lucky enough to have lunch with a woman who stepped away from her career as a pediatrician to write romance novels. When I met her, she’d just published her second of three novels in a series which came after abandoning three other manuscripts she described as “still hiding out under my bed.” Now you can find her paperbacks on the shelves at Target.

Her words of encouragement stuck with me, and I repeat them now for anyone who needs a reason to keep chasing your dreams — no matter what they are.

“If you want something bad enough, perseverance counts above all else.”