Seeing 2020

My Medium Goals for 2020

An adapted list for what I hope to accomplish on Medium this year

[Updated 2020.9.2: Some more accomplishments, but fewer than hoped for. Updated 2020.4.16: Early April accomplishments. Updated 2020.2.6: Early February accomplishments. 2020.2.4: January accomplishments. 2020.1.20: New goal, updated achievements.]

The most interesting, or at least most-read, genre of writing on Medium is articles about how to write on Medium.

This is certainly true for me. And evidently for you too, because here you are.

Based on the results of some of the more popular articles here, cross-referenced with my own search preferences based on the articles at the top of my page each morning, we are the rule rather than the exception.

When I told my wife I was writing for Medium, she got straight to brass tacks. “How much does that pay?”

“I, umm,” I looked down at a really fascinating spot on the tile floor of our kitchen. “I pay them? But …” I quickly headed her off. “There is a CHANCE that I could make some money.”

I was setting out to impress her with my command of the numbers. “Why, just last month I made 49 cents.”

Her response was completely and appropriately in line with the dollar amount. Small, and unimpressive: a twitch of one eyebrow, signaling a whiff of curiosity about my mental health.