Writing for 10 Cents a Day

Being a writer in 2025 is a gift and a curse. You don't need a traditional publisher, you don't need permission to put your work out there with platforms such as Medium and Vocal providing a ready-made platform for writers to put their work out there for thousands, even millions to see. However, here's a hard truth that no one wants to hear.

You'll die a broke writer if you pour your heart and soul into these platforms. You must, and I don't say this lightly, you must, build a real business around your writing. Unless of course, writing is just a hobby for you, and you'd rather work a 9-5 job and write on the side, then, that's fine.

In the writing community, it's a sin to become rich from writing. Or, it's a sin to openly admit that you'd like to earn money from your writing, so people happily slave away at the laptop to earn pennies, peanuts, not enough to buy a Starbucks coffee every morning.

Right now, I'm earning 10 cents a day on Vocal, yes, it's something but it's nothing to write home about.

Most writers publish tirelessly on here and other platforms because they love it, but love and money can be friends. Yes, they can.

At one point, I was earning $4000 and more monthly on Medium, then suddenly things went sour over there and I would earn $500 from the same amount of work and effort, and the same views. Something fishy? Yes. Medium don't want their writers to make money, point, blank, period.

They don't.

In fact, if you start making too much and you're not part of the top writers crowd, the Medium gang, the teacher's pets of the platform, they'll flag and delete your account. It happened to me several times.

I'm not complaining here, because I have a real business, I've built several online income streams over the years, however, I'd still like to earn more from my writing on platforms such as Vocal and Medium. I enjoy publishing on ready-made platforms, there's an ease that comes with it, but there's also a struggle that comes with it too.

You must grind like you're working a factory job to receive pennies, which is perfectly fine if you have other income streams, but not, if you're trying to build a life as a full-time writer. The best thing to do is work a job, and write on the side.

Or focus on freelance writing work, and supplement your income with these platforms, or, forget about earning money, and focus on adding as much value as you can. The truth, you'll never earn enough on Medium or Vocal unless you build a real business.

Put your hands up if you earn $1000 a month on Vocal or Medium? Put your hands up if you earn $100 a month on Vocal or Medium?

The Reality of Writing Platforms

The harsh reality is that most writers on platforms like Medium and Vocal are not making a sustainable income. While these platforms offer exposure and a chance to build an audience, they rarely provide a reliable source of income for the majority of writers.

Building a Real Writing Business

To truly succeed as a writer in 2025, you need to think beyond these platforms and build a real business around your writing. Here's how:

Diversify Your Income Streams: Don't rely solely on content platforms. Explore freelance writing, ghostwriting, or creating your own products like e-books or courses2.

Self-Publishing: Consider self-publishing your work. With the right marketing strategy, self-published books can be more profitable than traditionally published ones4.

Create a Strategic Plan: Treat your writing career like a business. Set clear financial goals, conduct market research, and develop a growth plan.

Build Your Brand: Establish yourself as an expert in your niche. Use social media and your own website to create a strong personal brand5.

Offer Services: Use your writing skills to offer services like editing, proofreading, or writing workshops.

The Path Forward

While platforms like Medium and Vocal can be part of your strategy, they shouldn't be your entire strategy. Focus on building a sustainable writing business that doesn't rely on the whims of a single platform. Remember, it's not just about the love of writing – it's about creating a viable career that allows you to pursue your passion while also paying the bills.

In 2025, successful writers are those who approach their craft with both creativity and business acumen. By diversifying your income streams, building your brand, and treating your writing as a business, you can move beyond earning pennies a day to creating a thriving writing career.