Med*um Hates Me
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Or so it seems from my earnings
After about three years of writing on Medium, I am almost ready to give up. At least on the possibility of making money. I’ve been thinking I should just focus my attention on content for Quora, where I get thousands (yes, THOUSANDS) of appreciative readers every month. It is so much more satisfying to interact with readers. But Quora doesn’t pay.
I need money, but equally, I desperately want recognition, I have been looking beyond both Quora and Medium. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an “elsewhere” that would be any better. I’ve been considering Vocal, but this article ( I’m Finally Calling It Quits With Vocal, by Sarah Olson Michel) suggests that Vocal could be even worse, not better.
I have been thinking about switching to Vocal myself. Funny thing: for the same reason Ms Olson Michael DUMPED Vocal. I am seriously disappointed with Medium, given that in 18 months I’ve been in the partner program, I’ve not been curated even once. And I have earned the whopping total of $21.11, or about $1.66 a month.
I challenge anyone to suggest those numbers are about the quality of my writing. A little background here if I may, to establish my writing credentials: I have an MA in English and Creative writing, a BA in same, and a PhD in journalism and mass communication from the University of Iowa. Interestingly, I received my department’s prestigious and highly competitive award for research a bit more than two years after I arrived. It was recognition of the reception my work received at various journalism and communication professional conferences I attended every year.
(Note: Frankly I’d rather not brag like this, believe me. But I see no other way to support my point that I am hardly a beginner in need of lots of practice.)
Now, that alone isn’t necessarily sufficient credential, but I also taught various forms of writing at several colleges and universities, for about 30 years, and I served as Managing Editor and Editor of two scholarly publications in addition to writing, editing, and producing numerous newsletters for nonprofit organizations.
Clearly a whole lot of people who enjoy good writing outside of Medium have appreciated my work.
