Section 1.1: The Power of Authentic Writing

As I began to write more, I received feedback that my style was straightforward yet impactful. Readers appreciated my emotional depth and the raw honesty of my words. While I recognized that my niche might not attract massive audiences on platforms like Medium, I embraced it. Though I faced censorship and article deletions, I understood the landscape of writing today.

Once I noticed the millions of views on Quora, I began to strategize ways to monetize my passion. I was aware of the challenges in becoming a full-time writer, and my experiences confirmed that reality.

Then, I stumbled upon a post by Sean Kernan that introduced me to Medium. Transitioning to Medium was a different ball game. Struggling with punctuation, I had to rely on Grammarly, which I found frustrating as it often stripped the personality from my writing. Quora was simpler; I could write and post without worrying about strict editing guidelines.

I joined Medium in June 2021 and achieved top writer status within a month. Back then, Medium offered $500 to top writers, and to my astonishment, I received $888 instead of the expected $388! It turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

Section 1.2: Navigating the Ups and Downs

Since that day, my writing journey has been a rollercoaster. It’s a tough gig, and I believe my audience is larger than I perceive; many people shy away from confronting their personal struggles. However, I connect with those who are enduring difficult times, offering them a sense of understanding and comfort through my words.

About two years ago, Quora began compensating writers. However, the earnings are modest—around $200-$250 monthly, despite achieving 2-6 million views. My activity on the platform has declined since then.

Then there's Newsbreak, which I found to be quite disappointing. They promote your work until you qualify for monetization, then they seemingly sideline you. I had amassed 5,000 followers and over 500,000 reads before monetization, but now I’m lucky to get ten reads a day.

So, the bottom line is, writing for money isn’t an easy path. While some may find ways to profit from it, I can think of better tortures for better pay! Building a following and a brand can be a frustrating endeavor, as what works one day may not yield results the next.

As AI tools like ChatGPT continue to evolve, I find them both fascinating and alarming. I wonder how society will adapt to these changes and when we might collectively decide we’ve had enough.