My Journey on Medium: Writing, Earnings, and Lessons Learned
A lot of people compare Medium to YouTube for writers. For the longest time, I didn't even know that Medium pays you for writing on the platform. However, a few months ago, I discovered that India, which was previously ineligible for Medium's Partner Program, was going to be included. That news motivated me to start writing on Medium again—this time, with a much more serious approach.
Previously, I had dabbled in Medium by writing 14 articles, but I hadn't been consistent. This time, I wanted to see what would happen if I really dedicated myself to writing on the platform.
How I Got Started on Medium
For those who don’t know me, I’m Joyri, a freelance social media manager and now a Medium writer. If you’re interested in learning different ways to earn money online, you might want to follow my journey.
I originally started freelancing with content writing. In the beginning, I wrote a few articles on Medium just to use as samples for potential clients. However, in July of this year, I took Medium more seriously after hearing about India's inclusion in the Partner Program. Writing on Medium appealed to me because, unlike freelance writing, where I had to cater to clients' needs, here I could write about topics that genuinely interested me.
My Writing and Earnings Breakdown
I started writing consistently on Medium on July 26th. Here’s how many articles I wrote each month:
- July: 3 articles (since I started at the end of the month)
- August: 2 articles
- September: 4 articles
- October: 5 articles
Initially, my plan was to write 14–15 articles per month, but when India wasn’t immediately included in the Medium Partner Program, I lost some motivation. If you’re unaware, India is still not officially included in the program. However, my articles are still earning money in small amounts, although I haven’t been able to cash out yet.
Exploring Different Niches
So far, I haven’t settled on one niche. I’ve experimented with writing about:
- Making money online
- Content writing
- Relationships
- Health and wellness
However, I’m now planning to focus primarily on making money online and content writing, as these topics resonate most with my audience.
My Most Successful Article and Total Earnings
Out of the 14 articles I’ve written, one article alone has earned me $116. It started gaining traction even before I was part of the Medium Partner Program. If India had been included in the program earlier, this article could have earned much more.
Here’s my earnings breakdown so far:
- September: $25.40
- October: $16.68 (expected to reach at least $120 by the end of the month)
- Total earnings so far: $141.82
While most of my earnings are coming from one article, I’m confident that as I continue writing consistently, more of my articles will gain traction.
The Challenges of Writing on Medium from India
One of the biggest challenges right now is that Medium has yet to officially roll out its Partner Program in India. This is frustrating because writers still have to pay the $5 monthly Medium membership fee to be eligible for payments. While $5 isn’t a huge amount, it can be discouraging to pay for a service when you’re not even sure if you’ll get paid for your work.
What I’ve Learned About Medium
As I spend more time on the platform, I’ve been learning valuable insights about how Medium works, including:
- What types of articles gain traction
- How stories get boosted by the algorithm
- The best ways to structure and optimize content for better visibility
I’ll be sharing more of these insights in future blog posts and videos, so if you’re interested in writing on Medium or improving your earnings, stay tuned!
Final Thoughts
Despite the challenges, I’m excited about my journey on Medium. Seeing even small earnings is motivating, and I believe that with more consistency and strategy, the potential for growth is huge. If you’re interested in writing on Medium or monetizing your content, keep following along—I’ll be sharing everything I learn along the way!
Let me know in the comments if you’ve had any experiences with Medium or if you have any tips to share. Happy writing!
