Chapter 1: My Earnings Overview

Let’s dive straight into the numbers. Since I began my journey on Medium, I’m approaching my fourth payout, which includes the partial month from October. The amounts I’ve received so far are as follows: $5, $14, $58, and an anticipated $47 for January.

As a member, I invest $5 monthly, which totals $20 for my time here. With a gross income of $124, I’m left with a profit of $104. However, when I evaluate this against the effort required to publish 150 articles (this being my 151st), the return feels less than rewarding. That breaks down to approximately 69 cents for each article, which prompts me to consider the broader value of my Medium experience beyond just monetary gain.

I’m fortunate to have built a following of 806, while I follow 1,246 others. Since the start of this month, I’ve gained 289 new followers and 9 subscribers—thank you all for your support! In January alone, my articles garnered 2,200 views and 1,200 reads, resulting in a read rate of 55%, which is something I aim to improve.

The article that has earned the most is titled "If I Wish You A Merry Christmas," written on December 11, netting me $14.66. Out of my 150 pieces, thirteen have unfortunately earned nothing. Interestingly, one article that previously earned zero has now generated some income.

Medium indicates I’ve engaged with 1,826 comments since joining. Does that sound like a lot? Or perhaps not enough? I’ve joined two publications since my last update: Word Garden, curated by Carl Jeffers, and Anchored In Christ, led by Paula Thomas. While I enjoy sharing my work in these spaces, I wish I had more control over the timing of my articles’ releases; I prefer my articles to be published between 8 AM and noon, but sometimes they appear late at night.

I've noticed that others report significantly higher earnings than mine. This could be due to a variety of factors, including having more followers, being active for a longer time, or simply creating more popular content. I try to limit how often I write about Medium itself, and when I do, I aim to provide both statistics and personal insights.

What draws me to Medium is not just the potential for earnings but also the opportunity for writing, reading, and engaging with others. Transitioning from Facebook, I was looking for a space focused more on writers and meaningful discussions rather than petty conflicts. Medium was presented to me as a platform for thoughtful conversation around life and its complexities, including fiction, personal experiences, and pressing societal issues.

However, I must admit that the quality of discourse here leaves much to be desired. I often encounter well-crafted articles with thousands of likes but only a handful of genuine comments. Too frequently, interactions seem driven by self-promotion rather than meaningful engagement.

For example, a comment like "Aww. Please clap for my articles," in response to a serious piece feels disheartening. I wish for a more authentic engagement, where discussions can flourish.

Despite these observations, I continue to view Medium primarily as a writing outlet, with earnings being a secondary concern. I look forward to the status report I will write next November after completing my first full year on this platform. Perhaps my earnings will reflect a different story, or I might find a community of authors that enhances my experience.

Thank you for staying with me through this journey. I eagerly anticipate reading your work and sharing more of mine on Medium.

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