I think time and pay are directly related. If I could get paid $200-500 per 1000 words I wouldn't need the two jobs I have and there'd instantly be more time. It's all linked.
Now, instead of writing for pittance on Medium I write for nothing on my own blog so it can build over time. Because a dedicated audience of my own will eventually buy products I intend to sell later on.
Yup, I so agree Kristi. If writing paid better, I'd work less too. Do you paste your blog posts over to Medium with a link to your site? That's what I'm going to do. Quietly rebuilding my site so I can try the same as you're doing. Good to see you, how have you been?
Good piece. I think you're right, Linda - full circle. I think there might be a 6th item in there, somewhere – unrealized expectations. The emotional result of reading how well others did with their articles on Elon Musk’s Diet or Sex on a Subway and then comparing them to our efforts. All of these 1000s of articles create expectations that maybe we can do well and earn some money, gain some support and so on. And when that goal dissipates and reality sets back in – as we view our stats – we feel that loss of momentum. Medium can be a wonderful resource and an emotional black hole. There’s great promise and yet the reality is – you’re a salmon with a backpack swimming upstream. The great unknown on Medium is what people will want to read. Many readers are not egalitarian. They come to read Tech or Gaming or Hacks on iPhones. Those writers do really well. The generalists – who write about history, love, politics, humor in grade school and everything in between – because their minds like diversity of content – find it harder. My opinion only here. The reason there are so many successful Influencers out there is because people want to be influenced. That drives a certain segment of social interaction – especially written articles. If that’s not your jam, then a crowd of readers will move past you on their way to somewhere else. This is not a lament but an observation – I’ve left my tears behind me already – I’m seeking solutions. Medium can create opportunity, friendships, contacts and so on. That’s valuable. The realization of our goals may run through Medium to somewhere else. Cheers for writing this, Linda.
The bit about generalists isn't even just your opinion. It's actually pretty accurate. In one of the interviews with Tony, he said people who write about multiple topics are not going to do well on Medium. He wants people who write on one topic and use Medium to grow their business. He said "write with your book in mind" and instead of looking at Medium as a way to get paid for writing, use Medium as a "stepping stone" to profit. So that's pretty much the writing on the wall.
Wow, that is specific. That actually makes me feel better in that I knew there was an underlying current and that statement helps me to see exactly what it was. Thank you!
Right? There definitely seems to be an underlying current and it excludes a lot of us. It feels like they want Medium to be more like the better humans and better marketing publications. That doesn't fit a lot of writers.
Since Medium is profit based there must be a financial motivation for their actions - I just can't see them choosing personal philosophy over what sells. Therefore the 2 Pubs you mention must have a focus that brings in the type of writer & reader that is profitable to Medium. They drive something that Medium really likes. Whereas the more general Pubs are too broad - only infrequently bringing in their favorite readers. Medium's communication always sounds so roundabout - the long way to a point. Like a partner who spends 20 minutes trying to say - I'm not into you. They don't want to "scare" anyone away, but they'll quietly route traffic to Pubs and writers who fit their new profile. Frustrating because when they accept the monthly $5 there is still the implicit contract that everyone has the same chances at success - when in fact, that really isn't true.
Dec 2, 2022·edited Dec 2, 2022Liked by Linda Caroll
+1 to every point you've made here.
Over the last few years, I've found that a lot of people are more in love with the idea of writing than they are with actually being one. If one wants it bad enough, they'll make the time. Writing with a sleeping in kid in the backseat or at 3 AM over breakfast (my reality) don't make for good dust jacket photos, but it's often what it means to be a writer in 2022.
Which brings me to another point; I often see people posting these types of comments, and I think they're struggling to navigate the difference between traditional writing and digital writing. Both are very different of course. But you don't need the same amount of time to write a 5-750-1000 word blog post that you might for a book ( to say nothing of formatting, etc.).
Lastly, a lot of people seem really uncomfortable with the idea of making money from their writing or treating their newsletter as a business. We've been conditioned to think that way for too long--talking about money has always been seen as poor form--but once that mindset shifts, most of the other barriers fall away.
Kevin, the last one for sure! The whole "artists starve" trope just never dies and people repeat it not knowing where it came from or why it's not true anymore. I suspect a lot of people think there's honor in suffering for their craft nevermind that they wouldn't have any books to read or movies to watch if everyone felt that way. Every time I talk about money and writing in the same sentence, there's a whole group of people that come out to finger wag. lol
I agree with Jim. I'm surprised that self-doubt wasn't one of the top 5 problems. I spent a long time, in the past, telling myself that my writing wasn't good enough to share, so I wasn't motivated to try and get better. I didn't have a feedback loop, apart from friends and family and they're either going to say, "Oh Darling, you're a literary genius!", or "You're not exactly Hemingway, are you? Stop wasting your time and get a proper job!"
To be brutally honest, it was only when I discovered Medium and saw some of the bad writing on there, that I figured I could do at least as well and the motivation kicked in for me.
Of course, there's also plenty of great writing on Medium, and that's inspiring. But the fact that you can access a receptive audience, no matter where you are on your journey and get followers and feedback is a massive motivation. And then, eventually, when you start to get paid a few dollars as well, you're on your way.
I wondered the same. I mean, it's everywhere when no one is asking. God, the number of people who agonize about when they get to call themselves a writer along is kind of nauseating. lol. The whole "aspiring" trope. And yet when asked, no one mentioned that, like doubt is the elephant in the room that they all just ignored. Your middle paragraph -- yeah, me too.
I think for most people you're spot on. I suspect the majority of writers, or wannabe writers, find themselves stretched pretty thin with work and family commitments depending on specific circumstances, e.g. child and elder care, etc. For some, it's tied to chasing a particular lifestyle which consumes most of their time. And is getting paid a search for validation that your work is good, or you need the money? For me, it's commitment and priorities. After many years of dragging my butt out of bed at 5:30 am every day often working well into the evening I'm not that driven to continue that pace. I also don't need the money, nor do I have the expectation that my writing is good enough that people would actually pay me. I do enjoy the act of creating through writing and if I get feedback that I made someone smile or helped them escape their worries for a few moments that's plenty of reward for me.
Hopefully I'll get better...which is why I read your work!
A lot of people are just trying to make ends meet. I read that half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That's a terrifying way to live. I think there's some kind of a mix of people who write because they love it and some who lean into it in hopes of adding a bit to the coffers. And some who fall under both, which is where I fall. I don't get up at 5:30 but the days are still longer than I'd like them to be. lol. And thanks for the last sentence! :)
I think you've hit the nail on the head with this set of statements: "Or is the real problem justifying the time it takes to write when it doesn’t get read and doesn’t do anything to help put some coin in the coffers?...It makes me wonder if the first and last struggle are one and the same."
It comes down to motivation, or lack thereof, if one's efforts appear to be fruitless as it doesn't even purchase a bag full of groceries at Medium, for example.
Another thought about saying they struggle with making $, as the last item in the list with only a few percentage points of endorsements. How you grew up, and the messages received about $ from parents could be playing a role here. Bear with me.
If you view making a lot of $ as "dirty" as it is in some quarters, unconsciously, you might push that issue way down to the bottom of the reasons for struggling with one's writing. Just a guess on my part. I was lucky enough to grow up with parents who suffered through the worst of the Great Depression who learned to be wise with the money they had (sometimes frugal, but not always). They shared what they had with others - always. Money was not the center of their lives - family and health were. Money is symbolic, as you well know. It represents different things to different people. Some people have a healthy relationship to this symbol, while others do not (this set of folks are never satisfied with what they have in the bank account, living by the motto "more is enough.")
It's true that a lot of people have baggage around money. I suspect it's worse for people doing a creative thing. No one would have much patience if their boss cut their wages in half and expected the same work, but when it's writing people accept it and think maybe they just suck. lol. Plus, there's another factor. It's one thing to make $100 if you used to make $20, versus making $100 when you used to make $1000. That's kind of what's happening to a lot of people at Medium. For me, it was my grandparents that lived through the depression, but we were farm folk and much the same applied. We all had to take care of each other. If a neighbor's barn burned down, everyone was there to help build the new one. One woman had a baby, all the women were bringing hand me downs and knitting booties and blankets. Thanks, Linda. :)
You've nailed it. I think finding the time to write is directly linked to your motivation. Getting paid is a huge motivation for many people. Finding a different motivator is key.
For some people a different motivator might be the key, true enough. But I also don't think there's anything wrong with money serving as motivation. Doctors don't do surgery for the love of it, you know? Sure, they wanted to be doctors. But there is also an expectation of compensation and I don't think that's a bad thing. You know? lol
Dec 2, 2022·edited Dec 2, 2022Liked by Linda Caroll
I was just about to write, "You are spot on." Then I saw Michael Doherty's reply...so ditto "spot ons"
I write because I must. I feel beastly within if I go too long without putting words to paper/screen. Having given up on the dream of making decent supplemental income on Medium - and getting paid part time gigs like substitute teaching - has been such a relief. I make the time now to write w/ no expectations except to release my muse
I hear you Jen. For a while Medium was a good supplemental income but that's in the past. I'll always write because I become a beast if I don't, but finding a different supplemental income is at the top of my list, too.
I'm not a writer, at least in the context you are addressing, because my intended audience is iPhones and iPads. Being retired, finding time is not a problem. But promoting is something I'm terrible at. I think this may be true for a lot of creatives. No matter how good my work is, there is a constant specter hovering over me saying "You're not good enough. So many others are so much better." It keeps me in a humble mindset. The saving grace for me has been finding a niche so small that no one else is interested in it. I have a mailing list, established more than 20 years ago, for people in that niche. There are less than 2,000. It's on groups.io, is free, and is a forum where people can ask for help. Every time I make a new app, I announce it there, full stop. No other promotion. They tell their friends, and it spreads, albeit slowly. This does not make me rich, but it supplements my meager retirement income so that we are comfortable. I don't have Kevin Kelly's 1,000 true fans paying me $100/year, but I have enough for now.
That's really good to hear, Jim. Comfortable without leaning on an employer who can pull the plug anytime is a really nice place to be. And you're right -- promoting is really hard for a lot of creatives. They tend to think of promoting a little backwards, looking to push their name "out there" instead of wondering how to draw people in.
I’m a storyteller, I have a lot to write about, but there’s so much, so many stories that it bottlenecks, and I sit there, not knowing which thing to write first.
I don’t know how to monetize my writing. How to begin but you're right I’ll bet if I made money writing that, may resolve itself.  I love writing, and when I write consistently, I notice I write better.
I am surprise struggling with tech and feature doesn’t make the list. There are now many new features on Substack that I am struggling to understand how they can help the writer reach out to more readers.
I think time and pay are directly related. If I could get paid $200-500 per 1000 words I wouldn't need the two jobs I have and there'd instantly be more time. It's all linked.
Now, instead of writing for pittance on Medium I write for nothing on my own blog so it can build over time. Because a dedicated audience of my own will eventually buy products I intend to sell later on.
Yup, I so agree Kristi. If writing paid better, I'd work less too. Do you paste your blog posts over to Medium with a link to your site? That's what I'm going to do. Quietly rebuilding my site so I can try the same as you're doing. Good to see you, how have you been?
I paste some of them. It's a dog blog so I don't paste them all lol. That would be too much dog for Medium to handle 😂
Still trying to figure out if I want to do anything with my Written by Kristi website.
I've been pretty good lately. Just celebrated my 50th out in the wilderness last week with zero cell service. It was glorious!
Good piece. I think you're right, Linda - full circle. I think there might be a 6th item in there, somewhere – unrealized expectations. The emotional result of reading how well others did with their articles on Elon Musk’s Diet or Sex on a Subway and then comparing them to our efforts. All of these 1000s of articles create expectations that maybe we can do well and earn some money, gain some support and so on. And when that goal dissipates and reality sets back in – as we view our stats – we feel that loss of momentum. Medium can be a wonderful resource and an emotional black hole. There’s great promise and yet the reality is – you’re a salmon with a backpack swimming upstream. The great unknown on Medium is what people will want to read. Many readers are not egalitarian. They come to read Tech or Gaming or Hacks on iPhones. Those writers do really well. The generalists – who write about history, love, politics, humor in grade school and everything in between – because their minds like diversity of content – find it harder. My opinion only here. The reason there are so many successful Influencers out there is because people want to be influenced. That drives a certain segment of social interaction – especially written articles. If that’s not your jam, then a crowd of readers will move past you on their way to somewhere else. This is not a lament but an observation – I’ve left my tears behind me already – I’m seeking solutions. Medium can create opportunity, friendships, contacts and so on. That’s valuable. The realization of our goals may run through Medium to somewhere else. Cheers for writing this, Linda.
The bit about generalists isn't even just your opinion. It's actually pretty accurate. In one of the interviews with Tony, he said people who write about multiple topics are not going to do well on Medium. He wants people who write on one topic and use Medium to grow their business. He said "write with your book in mind" and instead of looking at Medium as a way to get paid for writing, use Medium as a "stepping stone" to profit. So that's pretty much the writing on the wall.
Wow, that is specific. That actually makes me feel better in that I knew there was an underlying current and that statement helps me to see exactly what it was. Thank you!
Right? There definitely seems to be an underlying current and it excludes a lot of us. It feels like they want Medium to be more like the better humans and better marketing publications. That doesn't fit a lot of writers.
Since Medium is profit based there must be a financial motivation for their actions - I just can't see them choosing personal philosophy over what sells. Therefore the 2 Pubs you mention must have a focus that brings in the type of writer & reader that is profitable to Medium. They drive something that Medium really likes. Whereas the more general Pubs are too broad - only infrequently bringing in their favorite readers. Medium's communication always sounds so roundabout - the long way to a point. Like a partner who spends 20 minutes trying to say - I'm not into you. They don't want to "scare" anyone away, but they'll quietly route traffic to Pubs and writers who fit their new profile. Frustrating because when they accept the monthly $5 there is still the implicit contract that everyone has the same chances at success - when in fact, that really isn't true.
+1 to every point you've made here.
Over the last few years, I've found that a lot of people are more in love with the idea of writing than they are with actually being one. If one wants it bad enough, they'll make the time. Writing with a sleeping in kid in the backseat or at 3 AM over breakfast (my reality) don't make for good dust jacket photos, but it's often what it means to be a writer in 2022.
Which brings me to another point; I often see people posting these types of comments, and I think they're struggling to navigate the difference between traditional writing and digital writing. Both are very different of course. But you don't need the same amount of time to write a 5-750-1000 word blog post that you might for a book ( to say nothing of formatting, etc.).
Lastly, a lot of people seem really uncomfortable with the idea of making money from their writing or treating their newsletter as a business. We've been conditioned to think that way for too long--talking about money has always been seen as poor form--but once that mindset shifts, most of the other barriers fall away.
Kevin, the last one for sure! The whole "artists starve" trope just never dies and people repeat it not knowing where it came from or why it's not true anymore. I suspect a lot of people think there's honor in suffering for their craft nevermind that they wouldn't have any books to read or movies to watch if everyone felt that way. Every time I talk about money and writing in the same sentence, there's a whole group of people that come out to finger wag. lol
I agree with Jim. I'm surprised that self-doubt wasn't one of the top 5 problems. I spent a long time, in the past, telling myself that my writing wasn't good enough to share, so I wasn't motivated to try and get better. I didn't have a feedback loop, apart from friends and family and they're either going to say, "Oh Darling, you're a literary genius!", or "You're not exactly Hemingway, are you? Stop wasting your time and get a proper job!"
To be brutally honest, it was only when I discovered Medium and saw some of the bad writing on there, that I figured I could do at least as well and the motivation kicked in for me.
Of course, there's also plenty of great writing on Medium, and that's inspiring. But the fact that you can access a receptive audience, no matter where you are on your journey and get followers and feedback is a massive motivation. And then, eventually, when you start to get paid a few dollars as well, you're on your way.
I wondered the same. I mean, it's everywhere when no one is asking. God, the number of people who agonize about when they get to call themselves a writer along is kind of nauseating. lol. The whole "aspiring" trope. And yet when asked, no one mentioned that, like doubt is the elephant in the room that they all just ignored. Your middle paragraph -- yeah, me too.
I think for most people you're spot on. I suspect the majority of writers, or wannabe writers, find themselves stretched pretty thin with work and family commitments depending on specific circumstances, e.g. child and elder care, etc. For some, it's tied to chasing a particular lifestyle which consumes most of their time. And is getting paid a search for validation that your work is good, or you need the money? For me, it's commitment and priorities. After many years of dragging my butt out of bed at 5:30 am every day often working well into the evening I'm not that driven to continue that pace. I also don't need the money, nor do I have the expectation that my writing is good enough that people would actually pay me. I do enjoy the act of creating through writing and if I get feedback that I made someone smile or helped them escape their worries for a few moments that's plenty of reward for me.
Hopefully I'll get better...which is why I read your work!
A lot of people are just trying to make ends meet. I read that half of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That's a terrifying way to live. I think there's some kind of a mix of people who write because they love it and some who lean into it in hopes of adding a bit to the coffers. And some who fall under both, which is where I fall. I don't get up at 5:30 but the days are still longer than I'd like them to be. lol. And thanks for the last sentence! :)
Linda,
I think you've hit the nail on the head with this set of statements: "Or is the real problem justifying the time it takes to write when it doesn’t get read and doesn’t do anything to help put some coin in the coffers?...It makes me wonder if the first and last struggle are one and the same."
It comes down to motivation, or lack thereof, if one's efforts appear to be fruitless as it doesn't even purchase a bag full of groceries at Medium, for example.
Another thought about saying they struggle with making $, as the last item in the list with only a few percentage points of endorsements. How you grew up, and the messages received about $ from parents could be playing a role here. Bear with me.
If you view making a lot of $ as "dirty" as it is in some quarters, unconsciously, you might push that issue way down to the bottom of the reasons for struggling with one's writing. Just a guess on my part. I was lucky enough to grow up with parents who suffered through the worst of the Great Depression who learned to be wise with the money they had (sometimes frugal, but not always). They shared what they had with others - always. Money was not the center of their lives - family and health were. Money is symbolic, as you well know. It represents different things to different people. Some people have a healthy relationship to this symbol, while others do not (this set of folks are never satisfied with what they have in the bank account, living by the motto "more is enough.")
Great read, btw.
LindaR
It's true that a lot of people have baggage around money. I suspect it's worse for people doing a creative thing. No one would have much patience if their boss cut their wages in half and expected the same work, but when it's writing people accept it and think maybe they just suck. lol. Plus, there's another factor. It's one thing to make $100 if you used to make $20, versus making $100 when you used to make $1000. That's kind of what's happening to a lot of people at Medium. For me, it was my grandparents that lived through the depression, but we were farm folk and much the same applied. We all had to take care of each other. If a neighbor's barn burned down, everyone was there to help build the new one. One woman had a baby, all the women were bringing hand me downs and knitting booties and blankets. Thanks, Linda. :)
You've nailed it. I think finding the time to write is directly linked to your motivation. Getting paid is a huge motivation for many people. Finding a different motivator is key.
For some people a different motivator might be the key, true enough. But I also don't think there's anything wrong with money serving as motivation. Doctors don't do surgery for the love of it, you know? Sure, they wanted to be doctors. But there is also an expectation of compensation and I don't think that's a bad thing. You know? lol
I was just about to write, "You are spot on." Then I saw Michael Doherty's reply...so ditto "spot ons"
I write because I must. I feel beastly within if I go too long without putting words to paper/screen. Having given up on the dream of making decent supplemental income on Medium - and getting paid part time gigs like substitute teaching - has been such a relief. I make the time now to write w/ no expectations except to release my muse
I hear you Jen. For a while Medium was a good supplemental income but that's in the past. I'll always write because I become a beast if I don't, but finding a different supplemental income is at the top of my list, too.
I hear you. I just got disheartened re earning thru words. So when a gig sub teaching came up, I went for it!
I'm not a writer, at least in the context you are addressing, because my intended audience is iPhones and iPads. Being retired, finding time is not a problem. But promoting is something I'm terrible at. I think this may be true for a lot of creatives. No matter how good my work is, there is a constant specter hovering over me saying "You're not good enough. So many others are so much better." It keeps me in a humble mindset. The saving grace for me has been finding a niche so small that no one else is interested in it. I have a mailing list, established more than 20 years ago, for people in that niche. There are less than 2,000. It's on groups.io, is free, and is a forum where people can ask for help. Every time I make a new app, I announce it there, full stop. No other promotion. They tell their friends, and it spreads, albeit slowly. This does not make me rich, but it supplements my meager retirement income so that we are comfortable. I don't have Kevin Kelly's 1,000 true fans paying me $100/year, but I have enough for now.
That's really good to hear, Jim. Comfortable without leaning on an employer who can pull the plug anytime is a really nice place to be. And you're right -- promoting is really hard for a lot of creatives. They tend to think of promoting a little backwards, looking to push their name "out there" instead of wondering how to draw people in.
Spot on Linda—no doubt the first and last are linked.
As usual, Linda, you’ve hit the bull’s-eye.
I’m a storyteller, I have a lot to write about, but there’s so much, so many stories that it bottlenecks, and I sit there, not knowing which thing to write first.
I don’t know how to monetize my writing. How to begin but you're right I’ll bet if I made money writing that, may resolve itself.  I love writing, and when I write consistently, I notice I write better.
As always, thank you for writing this
I am surprise struggling with tech and feature doesn’t make the list. There are now many new features on Substack that I am struggling to understand how they can help the writer reach out to more readers.