3 important reasons I never write for Medium publications

The most frequent question I get in the comment section on my YouTube channel is this: do you write for publications and, if so, how do you get your work published with them?

The people who ask these kinds of questions are under the same two mistaken impressions that I was when I started writing on Medium.

Many new writers on Medium fall into this trap.

Those mistaken impressions are:

• That you need to get your work into publications in order to be successful on Medium

• That getting into large publications is an automatic guarantee of success on Medium

Neither of these assertions is accurate.

Let me tell you why, and then I’ll tell you the three important reasons I never write for Medium publications that I don’t own.

One of the biggest Medium myths is that you need to get into publications to find success. (Photo licensed under the Unsplash+ License)

Why I never chase publications

Let’s talk about my most-read, highest-earning story and why it taught me never to waste time chasing publications.

I’ve written about this viral story several times in the past, but just for clarity’s sake and for any new readers who’ve stumbled onto my account, here’s an update on where we’re at since I published it in November:

My highest-earning story ever.

Meanwhile, the following are two health and fitness stories that I had published in perhaps the most significant health and fitness publication on Medium.

The first is titled, “Is a mid-life crisis actually a bad thing?”

And here’s the second one, called “What getting COVID taught me about fitness over 40.”

So in summary, my first crack at a fitness story that didn’t appear in a publication (not even my own!) has generated 25,000 views and put US $1,164 in my pocket.

And the two that were published in a marquee publication got 271 views combined and made me $7.96 (insert fart noise).

Now, I want to be really clear here: this is not a derogatory commentary on the publication I submitted to. In fact, I really enjoy the publication and I think the writer who runs it is awesome.

My point is simply that the myth that publications will make or break you on Medium is just that: a myth.

So that’s the first reason I don’t chase Medium publications: the difference they make in your views, reads, engagement and earnings is negligible.

Now, onto the second reason I don’t chase Medium publications.

It’s a waste of time

As a part-time creator with two kids, a wife, a full-time job, and myriad other responsibilities, I’ve become very cognizant of my time and how I use it.

That means I’m ruthless about activities that waste my valuable time.

Folks, writing for publications is a waste of time in a lot of ways.

First off, you typically have to jump through hoops to be accepted as a writer.

Sometimes you need to fill out forms and submit personal information. Maybe you have to submit “tryout” stories to them so they can assess whether or not you’re a fit. That takes even longer.

It’s much the same even when you become a writer for a publication.

You have to sit around twiddling your thumbs while you wait to see if your story will be accepted, and this can be a long wait depending on who you’ve submitted it to.

If it’s rejected, you’ve maybe wasted a week or two where your story could have been earning.

Even if it’s accepted, now you need to wait for the publication’s editor gods to decide when it’s an appropriate time to publish your work.

Nah, that’s not for me.

I don’t know about you, but I started side hustling so I don’t need to answer to anyone but myself.

You lack control

Reason 3 is that you have a complete lack of control.

Many publications force strict formatting guidelines on you if you want to be included. This might be headline, subhead, or photo style.

Or it could be putting their own images and links in your stories. It could be requiring certain banners or spacers in your work.

They decide what days and times your stories will be published.

In my first few months on Medium, I paid a ton of attention to these kinds of things.

I tested and learned and eventually came up with formatting and publishing strategies that have delivered a lot of success.

I’ll be damned if I let a publication mess with it now.

One time, early on, I submitted a piece to one of the biggest self-improvement publications on Medium. It was a great post and would have been a hit for them, but they deemed it not good enough for their precious corner of this site.

After that rejection, I looked at the publication more closely. Despite the fact it had hundreds of thousands of followers, there were a ton of stories in it with almost zero engagement.

Forget ’em.

THESE are the 3 biggest factors in your story’s success: headline, photo, tags (see my video below for more on that).

That’s it.

Publications really don’t matter as much as you think.

Publications need you more than you need them

There are plenty of reasons publications want writers’ work.

It generates free traffic for them.

Many have sign-up processes that require you to submit info like your email address, which automatically goes on their mailing list (so they can try to sell you things later).

They get to put their logos and whatever spam links they want on your work.

So keep this in mind: they need you more than you need them.

If there’s a publication out there that you love and it would mean something for you to have an article in it, then by all means go ahead and submit your work.

All I’m saying is: don’t get discouraged if they don’t accept it work for whatever reason.

At the end of the day, you don’t need them anyway.

My most-read stories

1. You can now get monetized on YouTube with Shorts instead of watch hours

2. I made hundreds on Medium in my first month

3. You’re depressed over low views on Medium — here’s how to fix it

4. Yep, you can still earn BIG money on Medium in 2023 (full tutorial and earnings)

5. How I made $91 per month writing on Medium in my 5th month

6. Why Medium is the most underrated way to make money online

7. 6 lessons from my $825 Medium story

8. How I became a top 6% writer on Medium in 23 days

9. How YOU can write a viral story on Medium

10. Why writing on Medium is so much better than freelancing

The latest from me

• How I earned ludicrous money on Medium ($91 per hour) in my fifth month

• My Medium earnings dropped a face-melting 40% (why I’m not scared)

• The 6 most valuable lessons from my $850 Medium story

• My top 3 early lessons from trying to get monetized on YouTube

• I let my Medium earnings crash because I want even more money

Hey, please don’t forget to sign up for email notifications so you never miss one of my posts!