If you’re already a blogger or writer, you might be wondering whether it’s worth writing on Medium. In most cases, the answer is a definitive yes!
That said, certain types of writing do better on Medium than others. Also, many new writers and bloggers on the platform have a lot of basic questions about how medium works.
Let’s take a look at some of the top reasons to write on Medium, as well as some of the biggest questions people have when they first come to the platform.
Can I write on Medium for free?
If you want to read an unlimited number of stories on Medium, you’ll have to pay for a $5 per month Medium membership. Many people assume that will have to be a Medium member in order to write on the platform.
Thankfully, that’s not true. You can write on Medium as much as you want without paying to become a Medium member. Being a writer on the platform is totally free.
That said, most Medium writers do end up becoming Medium members. It’s helpful to be able to read stories from your fellow Medium writers, and it’s nice to be able to support them through that reading. You’ll often find that you want to link to other writers’ stories from within your own stories, too, so it’s helpful to be able to read an unlimited number per month.
In short, although you don’t have to become a Medium member or pay anything to write on Medium, most writers do choose to become Medium members so they can more easily connect with and read the work of fellow writers on the platform.
Does Medium own your content?
No, one of the best things about writing on Medium is that they don’t take any ownership of your content. I am not an attorney, and of course, you should consult one for any details about your intellectual property.
But if you look at Medium’s Terms of Service, they clearly say the platform does not take ownership of the content you put there: “You retain your rights to any content you submit, post or display on or through the Services.”
In my years of writing for Medium, I’ve never seen any indication that the platform has done anything with my content that I didn’t explicitly want it to do.
Medium even lets you re-post content from your existing blog to their site. They have an import tool that allows you to do this and imports your existing content in a way that’s unlikely to impact the SEO of your blog.
When you agree to publish something on Medium, you do grant the platform some rights to display your content, promote it, etc. Make sure to read and understand the terms of service and any contributor agreements you sign. Again, if you have any questions about the ownership of content, you should always talk to a trusted advisor.
But in general, Medium is not in the business of taking the content you post there, and I’ve never had any issues with this happening.
Can you write on Medium anonymously?
There’s not an option to publish a post on Medium anonymously. When you publish, the post will appear under your account name.
That said, it’s totally optional to make your account name your real name. You can always write under a pseudonym or pen name by making this the name for your account.
I know many writers who write under their own name on their primary account, but also maintain a second account on Medium under their pen name. They use the pen name account to publish stories that they wish to remain anonymous.
Because Medium doesn’t charge anything to write on the platform, it’s easy enough to have multiple accounts for pen names, business names, etc.
How Much Can I Earn From Writing on Medium?
Earnings vary dramatically, but it’s very possible to earn hundreds of dollars or more per article. It’s also possible for an article to fail completely, though!
How old do you have to be to write on Medium?
This is an easy one. According to Medium, you have to be at least 13 years old to write on the platform.
Different requirements may apply to the Partner Program, where you can earn money for your content. Check out the terms of service for that program specifically for more details. Keep in mind that you’ll need a Stripe account, a bank account, etc. to earn from the program, and you may not be able to start these unless you’re over 18.
If you just want to write and publish on the platform, though, 13 is the age cut-off.
How do I get started writing on Medium?
Getting started is easy! I just go to Medium.com and then press the Get Started button in the upper right of the screen. Creating an account is easy, and you can even link your account to an existing Google Facebook or Twitter account to sign in easily.
I love writing on Medium, and I definitely suggest trying it out.