A Passionate Writer Will Always Have Ideas

When I first discovered Medium, I was filled with excitement. I signed up and published my first article within hours, amazed that real people were reading my work. Though I only garnered about 10 views, I felt encouraged.

After publishing my second piece, I felt unstoppable. However, I soon encountered my first bout of writer's block and found myself unsure of what to write next.

What I’ve learned over the months is this: a passionate writer never runs out of ideas.

When I tell others that I write and publish nearly every day, the most frequent question I receive is: "How do you come up with so much to write about?"

The truth is, I have more ideas than I could ever convert into articles. I manage my ideas and published works using Trello, a free project management tool. Currently, I have around 500 article ideas, titles, and potential posts waiting to be written, and that list grows every single day.

If you take your writing seriously and have a strong desire to write, you will never run out of ideas. Instead, you need to strengthen your decision-making skills to avoid wasting time choosing what to write next.

Just be sure to find an idea management system that works for you and stick with it, regardless of how good or bad an idea may seem.

Forget the Notion of Being "A Real Writer"—Just Write

As a newcomer to Medium, you’ll likely encounter numerous "How to Succeed on Medium" articles from established writers. While it’s beneficial to learn from their experiences, you might also come across discouraging advice.

Some may argue that you aren’t a "real" writer if you’re motivated by financial gain. I believe that you don’t need to fit into the mold of a “real writer” to succeed on Medium.

Who defines what a "real writer" is?

And why should it matter if someone labels you as such?

Focus on your goals, learn from those who have achieved success, and keep pushing forward until you reach your desired outcomes.

Forget about fitting a label. Instead, put in the work, hone your skills, and reap the rewards.

Make Writing Enjoyable—Don’t Overcomplicate It

Embrace your writing journey.

Many believe that writing is purely a creative endeavor, and that great writers only produce when inspiration strikes.

That’s a misconception.

Great writers succeed because they write consistently, regardless of inspiration.

Writing is a job like any other, and to thrive as a writer—especially on Medium—you need to write a lot.

Instead of waiting for inspiration, focus on enjoying the work itself. Celebrate small victories and find ways to infuse joy into your writing routine.

For example, I’ve made simple adjustments to my workspace, such as using a diffuser with essential oils and keeping fresh flowers nearby. These small touches lift my mood and help me maintain focus and motivation.

Trust the Process and the Algorithm

Most writers on Medium won’t make significant income. Statistics show that 95% of writers on this platform earn less than $100 monthly.

Some, however, may find themselves with a viral post shortly after joining.

You might write for months without seeing substantial growth, or you might unexpectedly receive tens of thousands of views.

While there are countless strategies and principles to apply for success, it’s essential to release the tension and trust the process. Ultimately, a mysterious algorithm determines the success or failure of each piece.

You could spend hours crafting an excellent article, only for it to flop, while a hasty, casual piece might go viral.

For me, engaging with the algorithm is an enjoyable challenge. I have articles that have received hundreds of thousands of views—numbers unattainable elsewhere. Of course, I also have pieces that barely reach a few hundred views, but I accept that.

Instead of trying to decipher the algorithm’s intricacies, I focus on creating quality content and trusting the process.

Daily Writing Transforms Your Life

Writing provides me with clarity. It fosters mindfulness and can even be meditative. Being in the flow while creating inspiring content keeps me motivated.

Establishing a daily writing routine and the discipline to write thousands of words each day has profoundly impacted my life.

For instance, it has sharpened my decision-making skills, allowing me to prioritize writing every day. This resolution helps me evaluate how I spend my time, enabling me to easily decline activities that don’t align with my writing goals.

Saying no becomes simpler when I recognize that I have something more important to accomplish: writing.

Furthermore, daily writing has improved my communication skills. Since I began this practice, I've noticed that my spoken communication has also become clearer.

For non-fiction writers like me, precision is vital. Readers appreciate concise points. Over the past months, I’ve realized that my face-to-face interactions have also become more effective.

I no longer tolerate lengthy discussions; I seek succinct answers and deliver them myself.

The Pareto Principle Holds True on Medium

This is a critical insight that many unsuccessful Medium writers overlook: success on Medium often hinges on a few viral pieces.

If you examine the profiles of prominent writers, you’ll notice that they don’t consistently receive high numbers of claps. Most of their work garners average responses, while a select few receive tens of thousands of claps. These standout pieces generate the majority of their income and attract new readers.

Not every piece will perform well, but if you persist, you’ll eventually create viral content that can exponentially grow your audience and income.

Limit Time Spent in Facebook Groups

Facebook groups for Medium writers can be beneficial, but they often become toxic.

Many new writers contribute negative energy, complaining about their lack of curation, acceptance into publications, or insufficient earnings.

I suspect that many of these individuals would see better results if they spent less time complaining and more time writing.

Sometimes, I wonder why these writers fail to realize that Medium won’t reward them for voicing grievances.

Neither Medium nor any publication owes you anything. You can either play by their rules or choose to stop writing on Medium—or continue publishing subpar content while complaining in Facebook groups.

Another mistake is that many new writers spend excessive time posting links in clap-for-clap threads instead of focusing on producing quality content.

You won't achieve success on Medium by sharing links in these Facebook groups.

Everyone in those groups shares the same goal: to become more successful on Medium. They aren’t interested in reading your work.

Seriously: stop copying and pasting your links across multiple groups and concentrate on creating compelling content that genuinely interests others.

While Facebook groups for writers aren’t inherently bad, they’re often misused. I run a group where I answer questions and assist new writers, but I maintain a strict no-negativity policy and avoid clap-for-clap threads. It’s a space for sharing expertise, and everyone is welcome to contribute.

Seek Advice from Those Ahead of You

If everyone understood how to succeed on Medium, more writers would achieve remarkable results.

According to Medium, fewer than 5% of active writers earn over $100 per month:

There’s a valid reason why many people fail.

If you continually seek advice from those who lack successful results, how can you expect to succeed?

Would you ask an overweight person for tips on fitness? Or a financially struggling individual how to earn money?

Of course not.

So why would you consult those who are failing on Medium for guidance?

There’s a significant difference between the advice you’ll receive from those earning four or five figures monthly compared to the 95% making less than $100.

Collaborate with Medium, Don’t Fight It

First, the bad news: Medium is perpetually evolving. It will always change.

As a writer on Medium, you’re subject to these changes. One day, your earnings could drop to zero, and you have no control over it because they owe you nothing.

However, Medium is a valuable platform right now, offering immense potential for writers and entrepreneurs willing to invest time and effort into creating impactful content.

You cannot succeed on Medium by complaining. You either accept the platform’s rules and adapt accordingly or you fail.

As Gary Vee once said:

“Look at these platforms as shows, not channels.”

Think of Medium as your show. Utilize it while it’s here, and rather than worrying about changes, focus on producing exceptional content.

Headlines, Structure, and Clarity Matter

Finally, headlines, structure, and clarity significantly influence your story's success.

Your writing must be strong—that’s a given. But assuming your writing is solid, the effectiveness of your headlines, the structure of your narrative, and the clarity of your messages will determine your success on Medium.

Readers decide whether to click on your story based on its headline. If it’s unappealing, even a well-crafted narrative won’t attract attention.

If a reader opens a post and is confronted with a massive block of text, they will likely skip it for a better-structured piece. We are visual learners and appreciate aesthetically pleasing content. Most people skim before diving deep; making this skimming process enjoyable increases the likelihood of them reading your work.

Clarity is crucial. Medium readers seek substance. They want actionable knowledge, compelling stories, or unique insights. They aren’t here to skim the surface; they want depth, and they want it quickly. If your message is clear, they will continue reading. If it isn’t, they will move on.

The good news is that you can quickly enhance these skills.

You can learn to write captivating headlines, organize your posts effectively, and convey your ideas succinctly.

All three are skills that can be improved over time. Countless excellent articles on Medium can teach you how to enhance your headlines, structure, and clarity—take advantage of them. Analyze how the most successful writers achieve their results and emulate their success.

Final Thoughts

You won’t thrive on Medium if you don’t enjoy writing. You’ll give up too soon if the process doesn’t bring you joy.

However, if you commit to your writing journey, refine your skills, and follow the platform's rules, there’s much to gain.

I’m 23 years old, not a native English speaker, and I had never written professionally before joining Medium. If I can find success here, so can you.

Want to excel on Medium? Join my free 5-Day Medium Writing Course.