Chapter 1: My Journey Through the Medium Partner Program

Recently, I celebrated my one-year milestone in the Medium Partner Program. It feels like just yesterday I was thrilled about earning a mere 30 cents from my writings. At the beginning of my journey, I struggled to gain any traction or engagement. For the first thirty articles, it was as if I was writing for an audience of none, akin to tossing messages into a fire to send them off into the universe.

Gradually, however, I began to cultivate a community within Medium. Familiar names started to appear frequently in the comments of my articles, and I made it a point to engage with them, dubbing them my Medium friends. Many of these writers were far more prolific than I was, consistently posting and amassing substantial followings. Since I was monitoring only about a dozen of them, staying connected was manageable. During this time, I was dedicated to expanding my own body of work.

Then, something pivotal occurred: my article titled "Give Me A Couple Years And I'll Make You An Overnight Success" gained traction, leading to a surge in comments and connections.

However, after a break to travel and celebrate various life events, my earnings took a nosedive, and I lost touch with some of the friends who had once made Medium feel welcoming. Upon returning, I felt compelled to reconnect, only to discover that many of their profiles had vanished, leaving behind frustrating "404 Page Not Found" messages.

Some of these writers had once been incredibly active, and I had foolishly assumed they would remain on the platform indefinitely. Yet, as time passes, I've witnessed this phenomenon repeatedly. Many begin their journey with grand aspirations, envisioning a life free from traditional employment, supported by the riches of Medium. Yet for every successful writer like Tim Denning or Zulie Rane, countless others embark on this path but never reach their goals.

I recently read about a mochi shop in Japan that has been in operation for over 1,020 years. Its longevity is astonishing; at the time Columbus was setting sail for America, this shop was already thriving. But is it the world's largest mochi retailer? No, it remains a small business that has endured through consistency and a commitment to a singular product, steering clear of the pitfalls of over-expansion.

Likewise, on Medium, it’s often not the early achievers who sustain success, but rather those who persist despite challenges. The metaphorical graveyard of Medium is littered with the aspirations of writers whose expectations fell short of reality.

"It doesn't matter how many times you get knocked down. All that matters is you get up one more time than you were knocked down."

― Roy T. Bennett

Your Medium statistics may not consistently rise; some months will be busier than others, and it’s perfectly fine to take a step back. The key takeaway is to keep moving forward; as long as you don’t quit, hope remains alive.

In penning this article, I am paying tribute to my lost Medium companions, and I sincerely hope that anyone contemplating leaving this platform finds the inspiration to continue their journey, steering clear of the graveyard of the Medium Partner Program.

Chapter 2: The Path Forward

In this video, we explore the exciting new changes to Medium's Partner Program that can help writers adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape.