Overall Statistics from My First Month

Let’s start with the numbers, as they provide a genuine glimpse into my experience. While some may expect a more substantial return on investment, I prefer to keep my expectations grounded.

• Total Articles Published: 11 (averaging one every three days)
• Total Views: 250
• Total Reads: 115
• Fans Gained: 23
• New Followers: 16
• Successful Publication Submissions: 1
• Most Popular Post: "Three Essential Obsidian Community Plugins My PhD Couldn’t Do Without" (not the one that made it into the publication, though)
• Estimated Time Spent: around 20 hours on writing and editing

Currently, writing on Medium is not my top priority; my statistics reflect this reality. It's crucial for me that my Medium writing adds value to my already hectic lifestyle. Overall, the past month has been both fulfilling and beneficial. My writing quality has improved, and I’ve established a blogging routine, which has generally sped up my process. These improvements have enhanced my writing for both my PhD and personal projects. Freeing myself from rigid content constraints has opened up new creative avenues.

Medium: A Platform for Creative Expression

I have come to appreciate Medium as a writing platform. I also maintain another blog (annetteraffan.co.uk) with a more defined niche, but I realized I needed a space to experiment with my writing. Medium provided that opportunity. Unlike more complex blogging platforms such as WordPress, Medium is straightforward, allowing for minimal distractions. The formatting options are simple, and the user interface is easy to navigate. Image usage is limited, focusing instead on words and personal narratives rather than commercial content.

The community aspect is another significant attraction; there are countless writers on the platform! I also believe there are plenty of readers, creating a balanced environment. While Medium has a strong domain rank, I feel the visibility of most posts can be somewhat restricted. However, this is similar to carving out a niche in the broader blogging landscape. I’m drawn to the community, the inspiration, and the opportunity to share my voice.

Publications: Enjoyable but Not Essential

From my readings, it seems that submitting to publications is part of the fun on Medium. I decided to jump in sooner rather than later. My first submission was to The Writing Cooperative, which I knew wasn’t the highest engagement publication, but it’s one of the tougher ones to get into. To my surprise, my article "The Curse of the Blank Page is a Conflict Between Love and Hate" was accepted! It was a gratifying confirmation that I am on the right path, though the engagement on that article was lower than on some of my other posts outside of publications. The publication process took about two weeks, which can be challenging, especially if the content is time-sensitive. I wrote about love with Valentine’s Day in mind, but it didn’t get published until February 18th—four days too late. Others manage quicker turnaround times, so it's something I need to keep in mind.

I have applied to write for additional publications, but I haven't received feedback yet. I initially held back some articles for publication submissions, but now I prefer to share them rather than let them languish. Navigating the landscape of appropriate publications with significant audiences is a challenge I’m still working on.

Finding My Writing Style

Despite only publishing 11 articles, I’ve begun to notice which types resonate more with readers. A creative writing piece I posted received no views, while others performed much better. Generally, more constructive or experiential posts garnered more engagement.

It’s encouraging to see my statistics evolve, even at this early stage. Although the metrics are straightforward compared to tools like Google Analytics, I’m reassured that these are real views rather than automated bots. There’s a clear link between my publishing frequency and my stats; publishing more often would likely yield higher numbers. However, I have limited time and energy to dedicate to Medium, so I must keep my expectations realistic. The upward trend is exciting, and consistency will be key to continuing this growth.

Personal Achievements from the Past Month

Reflecting on my first month, I consider publishing 11 articles a significant achievement. While the quality varies, part of my goal for joining Medium was to embrace experimentation. This flexibility liberates me from the constraints of a niche blog. Additionally, I’m thrilled to have been published in The Writing Cooperative, although I may have set a high standard for myself! I’m also grateful for the 16 new followers I gained.

Areas for Improvement in the Next Month

The initial 30 days have been fantastic, and I hope the next month will be just as rewarding. My time commitment to Medium will remain similar, focusing not so much on publishing more but on maintaining consistency, improving my skills, and increasing efficiency.

Here are some specific goals I aim to work on in the coming month:

• Learn formatting techniques for posts, including linking to other articles
• Develop a consistent author bio
• Improve my use of tags (I suspect they hindered my creative writing)
• Submit to more publications (once I find relevant ones)
• Maintain a similar publishing frequency (realistically, I can't increase it)
• Engage more with the Medium community
• Utilize my own images in my posts
• Continue refining my writing style

I believe this is a solid list to focus on! I look forward to sharing my journey with you and will provide an update at the end of March 2023.

In this video, the speaker discusses the ideal frequency for publishing on Medium and how it impacts audience engagement.

This video features Tim Ferriss discussing the benefits of taking a sabbatical, including insights into creativity and productivity, alongside Kevin Rose's exploration of Medium's potential.