Writing on Medium and Why I Do It

Summary

The author discusses their passion for remote work, writing, and income generation, and how writing on Medium allows them to combine these interests.

Abstract

The author of the article has embraced a lifestyle centered around remote work, a love for writing, and the pursuit of financial gain. After quitting their 9–5 job and traveling extensively, they discovered the joy of writing as a means to document experiences, express feelings, and engage in freelance writing. The author has found Medium to be a platform where they can not only share their thoughts and stories but also potentially earn money. Inspired by successful Medium writers like Tom Kuehler, the author is motivated to continue writing on the platform despite modest initial earnings, as it aligns with their love for writing and the flexibility of remote work.

Opinions

The author values the freedom and happiness that come from doing what they love, which includes remote work and writing.
They believe that writing on Medium is a way to pursue their passion for writing while also potentially earning an income.
The author challenges the notion that one isn't a "real writer" if they write for money, advocating that it's acceptable to monetize one's passion.
They are optimistic about the potential to make money on Medium, drawing inspiration from other writers who have succeeded on the platform.
The author enjoys the process of writing and sharing their work, regardless of the financial outcome, indicating that personal fulfillment is a significant motivator.

I love to be remote.

In 2018, I did a thing I never thought I’d do. I quit my 9–5, I sold everything I owned (pretty much), and I packed my bags. Then, I moved to Vietnam.

I spent a little over a year living in and traveling around Southeast Asia. This year of travel taught me so so so much. Read about it here.

One thing I learned pretty quickly was that I did not miss the 9–5 grind.

Being remote means that I have nowhere I have to be. If I’m sick, I stay home to get better. If I’m bored, I go on an adventure. If I need to run errands, I have time to do that.

Not being remote, working a 9–5, gave me zero or little time to do what made me happy.

I love to write.

Not to toot my own horn, but I’ve always been good at writing. As an adult, I’ve truly come to love writing. I write to reminisce. I write when I need to ‘get away.’ I write to get my feelings out.

I’ve always dabbled in journaling. I sometimes kept a journal, I sometimes didn’t. When I went on said travel adventure, I journaled almost everyday for over a year to remember people I met and the places I went.

I’ve been doing some freelance content and copywriting for a bit, which I enjoy. I really like writing my own thoughts and about myself, too, if I’m being honest.

Sometimes writing in a journal can get tiresome on the hand, so I started typing. I created quite a few google docs of random articles that I never did anything with and that no one ever read (but myself). I shared my first article (same as mentioned above) here on Medium just for fun but then I kinda liked getting views and claps. Who wouldn’t like it when someone else takes time to read or appreciate their thoughts? So, I wrote another article; one on a topic that has nagged at me for quite some time: don’t tell me to calm down. I found out quickly that other people hate being told that, too!

I love to make money.

I often read or hear that a real writer doesn’t do it for money. My question is: why not?

“Choose a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life.”

As I said, I started freelance writing when I returned from traveling. I felt like it fit the bill for me. (remote, write, money)

Freelance writing, alongside teaching online, is a great way for me to live life the way I see fit. While I haven’t quite seen that Medium brings in the cash, I recently heard that it could. I was listening to a podcast that featured Tom Kuehler where he discussed writing on Medium and how to make money doing it. So, I figured I’d give it a go!

I’ve been reading articles on Medium for a bit of time, but it’s been less than a week since writing on Medium. So far, I’ve made 39 cents 😆 but I’m hopeful. I read about others’ success writing on Medium every day so if they can do it, so can I. And, either way, I enjoy it so that’s good enough for now.

“You might not write well everyday, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

Writing on Medium and Why I Do It

Writing on Medium means I get to do things I love.

I love to be remote.

I love to write.

I love to make money.