The Survey

Curiosity led me to complete the Medium survey, which turned out to be quite comprehensive. It included a range of questions about my experiences not only on Medium but also on other platforms like Blogger and WordPress. I was asked about my publishing frequency, the appeal of various sites, and my trust in them.

There were many questions specific to my time on Medium, probing what factors mattered most when publishing, how important community was, and whether I would prefer a small, loyal audience generating consistent income or a large following with less financial reward.

I was also asked about my motivations for publishing. Was it to influence readers, grow my audience, share knowledge, express my viewpoint, or earn money? What mattered most?

Completing the survey wasn’t just about the promised $5 gift card; I genuinely hoped that my feedback would help improve the platform for everyone involved.

Reflecting on the questions made me consider my own reasons for writing on Medium—something I hadn’t truly examined before. It struck me that if I were to return to publishing, I needed to be intentional about it. If I couldn’t articulate my reasons or envision what success would look like, perhaps I shouldn’t be publishing at all. If success remained elusive, it might be time to seek out other pursuits. Life is too brief to invest time without purpose.

This introspection led me to realize that my earlier withdrawal from regular publishing stemmed from a lack of intentionality. I had fallen into a routine, driven by an odd sense of obligation rather than genuine passion.

Establishing a Routine

A while back, I set out to walk 10,000 steps daily, which quickly became an obsession. For three years, I kept track of every step, turning a simple walk into a rigid task. I focused more on metrics than on enjoyment, which detracted from the original purpose: staying healthy and getting outside.

In a similar vein, I noticed that my writing had lost its purpose, morphing into a relentless pursuit of views and engagement metrics. I stopped writing about topics that excited me, instead chasing trends in hopes of gaining popularity and income.

Medium doesn’t need more generic self-improvement pieces or clickbait articles. It craves authentic stories born from passion, expertise, and genuine insights.

In short, the platform would benefit from fewer mediocre contributions driven by obligation. If Medium aims to promote quality writing, it should reward those who produce it.

Currently, the platform is flooded with lightweight content, which only serves to inflate popularity and profits, incentivizing more writers to replicate this model.

If I publish quality articles that attract significant external traffic, I shouldn’t feel underappreciated for bringing new readers to Medium. If the platform fails to acknowledge this, I may choose to publish less frequently.

Many articles advocate for constant content production as the key to follower growth and visibility. However, creating content for the sake of it isn’t the ultimate goal. I’ve done that in my professional writing career, but it felt like a job—one that compensated me fairly.

I’ve published some strong pieces on Medium, with several appearing in sought-after publications and even making “best of” lists. However, despite the effort that goes into them, the financial returns were minimal, often amounting to mere cents per hour.

I would never accept a job that pays so little. In my graduate days, I made $15 an hour bartending, which was far easier and came with tax-free tips.

During my time as a writer and editor at a daily newspaper, I earned a reliable income, regardless of my interest in the topics I covered. The job came with benefits, including health insurance and retirement contributions.

It’s possible that some individuals publish on Medium to escape traditional employment, but I wonder if that’s as different as we imagine. Yes, there’s the freedom to write whatever we please, but this freedom can carry its own costs. My politically charged posts on Medium may have hindered my chances for certain job opportunities.

Given all this, I must now ask myself: if I have to write daily about subjects that don’t interest me just to gain followers and income—without any job security or benefits—why should I continue?

Medium isn’t a job; it’s more of a gamble. My most successful stories often come from external sources rather than the platform’s algorithms.

Moving Forward

With this in mind, I’ve decided on a new approach for my Medium publishing:

I will publish on Medium to: - Share valuable information, insights, and expertise - Hone my writing skills - Find joy in the process - Persuade readers to consider my perspective - Explore personal themes such as vulnerability and compassion - Write about topics that wouldn’t typically attract payment

I won’t publish on Medium: - Stories crafted solely to attract attention - Filler content - “Listicles” - Clickbait articles - Pieces written out of habit or obligation - Topics that don’t spark my passion or interest - Articles aimed at cracking the formula for success

Setting Boundaries and Adhering to Them

I still maintain a regular exercise routine, but I no longer obsess over tracking every step. My walks have returned to their original purpose: to enjoy the outdoors and stay healthy.

Similarly, I will continue to publish on Medium when I have something meaningful to say and look forward to submitting to Start it up when my work aligns with their new guidelines.

If I can generate income from my writing, I’ll be encouraged to create more. If not, my output is likely to decrease.

I’m done with the practice of publishing content just for the sake of it. Medium would benefit greatly if more writers shared this perspective.