How Did I Earn on Medium While Taking a Break from Writing?
My Personal Experience
This past month, I found myself in a position I hadn’t anticipated: needing to step back from writing on Medium. After six months of consistently publishing and actively engaging with other writers, life circumstances forced me to pause this October.
It got me thinking about how this break would affect my earnings and whether all the work I had put in would sustain itself or dwindle quickly.
The Background
For half a year, I committed to building my presence on Medium. Weekly, I published 1–2 thoughtful articles, interacted with fellow writers, and commented on their work. I have 2.4 followers on Medium and one publication with almost 800 members.
This steady effort helped me grow as a writer and created a consistent stream of earnings.
What Happened When I Stopped Writing?
In October, I had to stop writing entirely. I was worried that my income would drop off a cliff. But to my surprise, the decline was more gradual than I feared.
Instead of experiencing a dramatic loss, my earnings gently tapered.
This smooth decrease reassured me that my previous articles still gained some views and read, even without adding new content.
Why Didn’t My Earnings Drop Dramatically?
Several factors contributed to this smooth decline:
- Evergreen Content: Some of my articles continued to get steady traffic because they were on topics that remained relevant over time.
- Engagement: My past interactions with other writers and readers seemed to have a lasting impact, as people were still discovering and engaging with my previous content.
- One more thing that I didn’t mention is my FREE Chrome Extension for Medium Writers. I got a lot of great feedback on that. Some people follow me because they use and love it, and I appreciate that.
However, I understand that this decline can only continue for so long.
If I don’t resume writing in the coming months, I predict that my earnings will gradually trend toward zero. As I mentioned earlier Medium COULD NOT BE A PASSIVE INCOME.
The sustainability of earnings on Medium, as I’ve discovered, relies on staying somewhat active and fresh in readers’ minds.
My Lessons Learned
Taking a break from Medium doesn’t immediately erase your efforts, but the platform does reward consistency.
If you’re in a similar situation, don’t worry too much about short-term breaks, but know that a longer absence will likely lead to diminishing returns. The key is to write articles that have a lasting impact and to engage enough with the community so that your presence lingers even when you step away.
Conclusion
In my experience, Medium can offer a bit of financial cushion for those who have built a backlog of content, but it’s not a passive income machine.
To keep earning, you’ll eventually have to come back, write more, and stay involved. So, if you’re planning a hiatus or have to take a break, don’t panic — but don’t expect your earnings to sustain forever.
What’s your experience?
Have you taken a break from Medium, and how did it affect your earnings? I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories.
