I hear you, Dennett. And I think a lot of people feel the same. I appreciate the extra Medium money as my income is always fluctuating with my student load. I really have no hope of retirement myself. I will likely work part-time until I no longer can physically do it.
I have also hoped my Medium income would grow. But it has been between $90 and $200 every month since my third month here (April of 2018.) That is posting nearly every day. So it is not a huge source of income. Especially considering the hours I spend writing and posting.
I have come to veiw it as bonus income for something I enjoy doing. That is the only way it makes any sense. A paying hobby. Or simply an unexpected extra source of income. I don’t count on it.
I am curious why everyone is reporting such a drop in earnings. I am earning roughly $4 per day for the first 5 days of November. That would put me at around $120 at the end of the month. Right in the same range as before the change.
I remember a similar wave of discontent about a year ago when Medium launched their own publications. A lot of writers were mad that they couldn’t compete or make a living writing here. Many left. I hope fewer will lose heart and leave this time. It would be a shame to lose such a great community of writers.
The reality is, Medium has always preferred non-fiction and personal essays. Creative writing has never been a big earner here. And probably won’t be in the future. Unless things dramatically change. It could happen, but I will be (pleasantly) surprised if it does.
But the good things—community, interaction, reading, writing— remain unchanged. It only the money that has changed (for some.) And sadly, money ruins most things.
I will continue to stay for the good things. I hope you will also.