This is the article I wrote in April 2021. It feels funny to read it now because I was over the moon for earning just $6. First, here is the article:
I have been on Medium since July 2020 but started seriously in March 2021.
I know I am late. But in my defense, new jobs are hard. I started two new jobs in this time period, and shifted twice because of it.
I also wanted to binge-watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Umbrella Academy, and other brilliant shows on Netflix in my free time to relax.
I know I have watched the 10 seasons of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. 10 times over so I do not need to binge-watch it again, but if I can take time to write F.R.I.E.N.D.S. like this three times, I really want to.
Anyway, my first article was self-published. The Ascent published the second one. I was thrilled. I’ve been sitting on that article for a month, afraid to submit it anywhere due to fear of rejection.
Sometimes I think, had they rejected the article, would I have been on Medium right now? No one knows because it got published and now I know that getting rejected doesn’t mean I am a terrible writer.
And to show how stupid I really am, I just realized while taking the screenshot below that this story was “Chosen for further distribution” and I never knew. How? Where was I when his happened?
This article got 349 views and $6.59 in 6 months. It may not be much, but it’s not zero. I have those articles too.
This is my first income through writing ever. So, bear with me while I celebrate.
You know what this means, right? I am officially a writer. Took me six months to realize it, but I am a writer. I will update my resume right after finishing this article and quit my job in administration. Maybe my engineering degree will finally get some use.
I know that lots of writers who have started on Medium after me have earned a lot more. I have read their articles. I felt bad, but then I realized I had only written nine and published eight stories to date.
One of which is currently submitted to a publication after being rejected from the 6th or 7th publication.
Also, Happy 10th article to me! Technically, it’s 9th if it got published first.
All I know right now is that it’s the start. I have started something that I love and something that makes me happy. So, I will enjoy it along with the $6.59 (total of $11.51 from all articles combined).
P.S. — I didn’t even know and I actually Googled- “What does Chosen for further distribution means in Medium” just to be sure that I am not dreaming. It’s 1 a.m. Anything is possible.
While reading this I can feel how happy I must have been. I don’t usually write stories about earnings, but this article is special because that day I realized I could make money from writing.
Even if it’s coffee money.
I earned $6 while doing something I love.
But I forgot that in the last few years. I forgot why I started in the first place.
I did not start to become the top voice on LinkedIn or to gain 100K followers on X. I started simply because I thought it could be something I love over time and I was right.
I fell in love with writing.
I never really had anything I loved doing in my life and writing gave me a purpose. It was my escape from my boring 9 to 5.
And I am glad I didn’t give up.
So, if you also want to give up, don’t.
Do it because it makes you happy. Not because you want to prove yourself to someone. Not because you want to be rich or famous.
I’ll see you next week,
Sushmita