Chapter 1: Nick Wignall’s Departure from Medium

Nick Wignall, a prominent writer on Medium with an impressive following of over 331,000, has recently made headlines by deleting all of his articles from the platform. His decision raises an important question: Is Medium still a viable space for writers?

In the past, his articles would frequently populate my feed, and I eagerly read them. Just a few months ago, Wignall tweeted about his substantial earnings from Medium, revealing that he was making over $5,000 each month. So, what could prompt someone with such success to abandon the platform?

I noticed that his posts had vanished from my feed and decided to check his profile. He had only one recent article titled "Why I Deleted All My Medium Articles," published just a day prior. Curious about his reasoning, I clicked on it. Initially, I thought perhaps his account had been compromised or banned, but that was not the case.

In the article, Wignall shared a thoughtful message with his readers, explaining his rationale for removing his content. He reflected on his journey:

"I’ve been actively publishing on Medium since early 2018. For many years, the income from the partner program, combined with the platform's ability to distribute my work, made my efforts feel worthwhile. However, over the last 6 to 12 months, my earnings and the distribution of my articles have significantly declined, showing no signs of recovery. Thus, it no longer makes sense for me to continue publishing here."

This is undoubtedly disappointing news for fans of his writing. It’s disheartening to witness someone with such talent step away from a platform that has benefited many readers. However, it’s clear that he made this choice after careful consideration.

Wignall also mentioned his desire to shift his focus toward other platforms, such as YouTube, and to grow his newsletter. Although his articles may no longer be on Medium, they can still be accessed via his personal website. I will certainly miss his contributions on Medium, but I remain subscribed to his newsletter and will continue to follow his work.

Is Medium still a worthwhile platform for writers?

Wignall’s comments highlight a growing concern: many writers, including myself, have noticed significant changes on Medium compared to two or three years ago. The reliability of income from the partner program has diminished, with earnings fluctuating despite consistent article submissions.

Like other social media platforms, Medium's algorithm is in constant flux, leaving writers to bear the brunt of these changes. The best strategy moving forward is to avoid dependence on any single platform. Building an email list, similar to what Nick has done, utilizing social media, and sharing work across multiple platforms can provide more stability.

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