I Abandoned Medium And This Is Why
A next stage in the journey of finding a poet’s revenue stream
There was a time I published a story on Medium every single day. Sure, it was not a very long time, but I tried it. It didn’t work as I wished it would. Despite my effort, and an increase in number of readers, the time spent on my work by Medium Members was not so high that my monthly earnings from the MPP (Medium Partner Program) rose above that magic $10 mark — let alone 10 Euro.
Then there was a time I spent many minutes in Facebook groups for Medium Writers. I even went so far as to become a moderator in one, and an editor for a publication related to another. I spent time sharing my stories — I even had a schedule going on for which story to post in which group on which day — and I spent time reading, applauding an commenting on stories of others. It didn’t work as I wished it would.
First of all, my monthly earnings only slightly exceeded that magic $10 mark, but never rose above $15. Which is an abominable salary for somebody who puts in several hours per day for several months.
Now there is a time that I have moved the focus of publishing my work to another platform and another business model. I decidedly opted for the Maecenate-Model, where I ask my audience for a small donation about the size of a coffee. Additionally, I made an ebook that I sell online. For 2 months in a row, I have succeeded to break that magic $10 mark easily, without spending several hours per day chasing revenue. But mainly by creating my art.
As an added benefit, I do not have the feeling I have on Medium: that by luring people’s attention to my post, I am actually negatively impacting the earning potential of my poet-friends. Every second a Medium Member spends on my poetry, decreases the value of the time spent on the work of others. When these others are my poet-friends, it simply hurts.
Now, once upon a time very long ago, before the age of the MPP, I was publishing stories on Medium. So, I will not (yet) abandon the platform completely. But I have shifted focus. And I’m feeeeeeeling gooooood.
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