I Am Very Tired of Being Fed Medium Stories About How To Make Money…From Medium

I am 440 pieces in. I have put my thoughts and ideas on Medium 440 times, with no single piece making more than a few dollars. Actually, one month I earned $30. Most pieces earn a few pennies, or less, and that’s just fine. The point was never to make money, although it can be a good side benefit.

The point is to improve as a writer. The point is to put my thoughts out into the world, and see if they get amplified, or lead to more interesting thoughts. The point is to speak my mind. The point is to let loose these words, into the world, since personal expression is generally a good thing.

If you are a Medium member, you will know that many of the biggest writers on Medium often churn out articles on how to make money…from Medium. These articles often discuss the changing algorithm that the platform uses, curation, how to write good headlines, include catchy images, and so on. All of these articles have one thing in common: they are about how to monetize your writing. These articles are, at best, necessary and helpful. At worst, they give a crass and commercial motive for the craft of writing, and a bad message to aspiring writers.

The profit motive is real, and it is necessary, for working writers. But aspiring writers should also consider a few other things…