That Medium story (We Could Learn a Lot About Sex From the Dutch) is still producing! It’s pushing $30k. But I have not gotten a single Boost since last July. I see my stories regularly show up on other people’s “this should have been Boosted” lists. The curating team is either annoyed with me making so much on that story or they don’t like my work suddenly. That’s ok because most others do! I used to take pains to differentiate my work on the two platforms, but now I don’t. That’s a luxury I can’t afford. If I had something really good, I’d put it on Medium first to seek a Boost, but now I publish first on Substack because the Boost just ain’t happening. Here’s a tip: after I’m declined for a Boost, I edit the story and add a shitload of book promo. If Medium doesn’t want to Boost my stories, I will use it to Boost my books.
Yup, that very much parallels my current strategy. I'm starting to look at the Boost period as a golden age. I've had a few months with zero Boosts lately, a couple with one or two. I'm still getting a good number of nominations through, I think I got 10 stories Boosted last month. The feedback I've been getting is that they aren't earning quite as well. I am encouraged by the fact that many of the non-Boosted stories I'm writing are earning well lately. When it comes right down to it, if I can get $100 for an article I'm pretty happy. That's sustainable for me... assuming the rest of the world doesn't go up in flames.
Such huge numbers! It seems like such a faraway dream but I am going to keep doing what I am doing, and I especially appreciate taking the focus a bit off going for a Boost or trying to game the algorithm. I could make myself crazy getting fixated on that and lose the love I have for writing and telling stories. Thank you!
The biggest number is the number of years I put into this :) But it is possible to get there. I have spent 95% of my writing career supporting my writing with other sources of income. But yes, it's worth experimenting with forgetting about Boost and the algorithm and just writing every now and then.
Yes, keeping the long view is best. Last week I actually published seven pieces between Substack and Medium but I don’t think I can maintain that for weeks on end. I will just do what I can do!
Yes, finding a sustainable approach is also important. I often schedule posts for the future. If I had to do 3 daily I wouldn’t be able to keep this up, but I’m going through my old portfolio and polishing off older articles.
That Medium story (We Could Learn a Lot About Sex From the Dutch) is still producing! It’s pushing $30k. But I have not gotten a single Boost since last July. I see my stories regularly show up on other people’s “this should have been Boosted” lists. The curating team is either annoyed with me making so much on that story or they don’t like my work suddenly. That’s ok because most others do! I used to take pains to differentiate my work on the two platforms, but now I don’t. That’s a luxury I can’t afford. If I had something really good, I’d put it on Medium first to seek a Boost, but now I publish first on Substack because the Boost just ain’t happening. Here’s a tip: after I’m declined for a Boost, I edit the story and add a shitload of book promo. If Medium doesn’t want to Boost my stories, I will use it to Boost my books.
Yup, that very much parallels my current strategy. I'm starting to look at the Boost period as a golden age. I've had a few months with zero Boosts lately, a couple with one or two. I'm still getting a good number of nominations through, I think I got 10 stories Boosted last month. The feedback I've been getting is that they aren't earning quite as well. I am encouraged by the fact that many of the non-Boosted stories I'm writing are earning well lately. When it comes right down to it, if I can get $100 for an article I'm pretty happy. That's sustainable for me... assuming the rest of the world doesn't go up in flames.
Such huge numbers! It seems like such a faraway dream but I am going to keep doing what I am doing, and I especially appreciate taking the focus a bit off going for a Boost or trying to game the algorithm. I could make myself crazy getting fixated on that and lose the love I have for writing and telling stories. Thank you!
The biggest number is the number of years I put into this :) But it is possible to get there. I have spent 95% of my writing career supporting my writing with other sources of income. But yes, it's worth experimenting with forgetting about Boost and the algorithm and just writing every now and then.
Yes, keeping the long view is best. Last week I actually published seven pieces between Substack and Medium but I don’t think I can maintain that for weeks on end. I will just do what I can do!
Yes, finding a sustainable approach is also important. I often schedule posts for the future. If I had to do 3 daily I wouldn’t be able to keep this up, but I’m going through my old portfolio and polishing off older articles.
I actually have about two to three months of posts. I like it that way, in case I have a long dry spell.