I Lost my Bet with Medium

One Year Later: Reflections and Reality Check on a Writing Experiment That Fell Short

A year ago, I made a bet with myself. I would give Medium a real shot, commit to writing and publishing on the platform, and see if it was worth it by the end of the year. For me, “worth it” wasn’t a huge milestone — I just wanted to earn back the $40 I spent on the Medium membership.

I’ve always enjoyed writing and found joy in sharing my thoughts and experiences, especially about topics close to my heart: the animation and film industry, freelancing as a creative, globetrotting, and grief. When a colleague introduced me to Medium, I thought, “Why not?” It seemed like a great way to turn my passion for writing into a small side income, or at least a way to reach a wider audience, beyond my monthly newsletter.

In 2023 I started posting, and in early 2024 I got my yearly subscription. I committed to writing and publishing regularly, reading other authors’ pieces to engage with the platform, and putting real effort into my Medium presence.

How It Went

Despite a year that was far more challenging than I expected — one filled with a complicated pregnancy, a part-time Master’s degree, my full-time freelance creative career, and the development of my new short…