2. How do I balance my time and energy between writing and other activities on Medium, such as reading, commenting, and networking?
Not to avoid giving a direct answer to this question, but how much time and energy one devotes to Medium is a personal decision each user must make.
I’m sure our journies on Medium take different twists and turns.
Let me explain.
In my time on Medium, there are times I spend more time writing than reading other writers’ stories. Then there are moments when I want to research more to find out what features Medium offers to improve my time on the platform.
Spending time on Medium, like many other community platforms, can sometimes resemble a black hole, so I believe it’s critical to plan how much time and energy one spends on a regular basis.
Your goals for Medium should dictate the amount of effort and energy you expend.
My Medium goals are:
- Enjoy writing and sharpening my craft.
- Build relationships with other writers and learn what they can teach me.
- Assemble a following.
- Share the lessons I’ve learned over my career.
- Contribute at a high level.
- Generate a modest stipend.
- Have fun on the journey.
Some goals are easily quantifiable, and some are more elusive and qualitative. But I believe they’re all important.
If you have not taken a few minutes to write down your Medium goals, now’s a good time. Did you know people are 42% more likely to achieve their goals if they write them down?
Let me show you my current weekly plan and then elaborate on why I’m doing what I do.
These activities take me 20 to 30 minutes each morning and afternoon, minus the time necessary to write my stories for the day. Each story can take me 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the research needed.
You’ll notice my schedule does not include activities such as sharpening my craft, marketing, reading other writers, and discovering what’s new on Medium.
It’s important to note I’m not holding down a full-time position. I spent my entire career in technology and am now at a time in my life where I’m enjoying giving back.
Perhaps a good approach may be to decide what activities need attention and spread them out over the week.
For instance, you may research what’s new on Medium on Mondays. Tuesdays could be devoted to sharpening your craft. Wednesdays could work for reading other writers, and Thursdays and Fridays could be spent marketing and building your brand.
I would say make sure you’re writing at least five days a week.
What’s important is that you schedule the “must be done” activities and leave the “would love to get done” activities to the open times in your schedule.
Start slow. See how long it takes to write your stories and add other activities.
Don’t build a schedule that will end up being unworkable.
3. How to stay motivated and inspired to write consistently on Medium.com?
Again, this is another question each writer must answer for themselves.
It would be easy for me to give you the answers extolled across the Internet.
- Set clear writing goals
- Write what you’re passionate about
- Create a schedule
- Take writing breaks
- Engage with other writers
- Celebrate small wins
There is no formula or 6-step plan for staying motivated and inspired to write.
Writing must be an activity you believe you must do and do regularly.
I do believe you need to take writing detours from time to time.
I’m writing stories on Medium and editing for ILLUMINATION Curated Publications while formulating my next book project. Perhaps I’ll write about freelancing or do a companion guide to my latest book, The Medium Quick Reference Guide.
Sometimes I write poetry as a relaxing outlet and avoid subjects on technology, freelancing, and entrepreneurship.
Passion is a large part of being motivated to write. You have to love the writing process, the research, the learning curve, the sentences that seem to never work or sound right, the frustrations, the deadlines, and the challenges involved in finishing the piece.
