# My Journey of Writing on Medium: Earnings and Insights
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Chapter 1: Introduction to My Writing Journey
Every time I visit Medium, I'm greeted by a growing number of success stories detailing the impressive earnings of various authors. These narratives usually celebrate individuals who have excelled, raking in substantial sums while sharing their insights on achieving similar results. However, my experience is quite different!
This piece aims to share my journey, which centers around starting small and persevering despite challenges.
My daily grind involves working on the Charlie Blast Furnace at the former Bethlehem Steel for over 26 years. This physically demanding job can be tough, but it pays the bills. For two decades, I've also served as the Union Steward on the shop floor.
The challenges of working swing shifts can be overwhelming, impacting my mental and physical well-being. After enduring long shifts of twelve to sixteen hours, it’s hard to find the energy or clarity to express my thoughts coherently. Life often intervenes, making writing a significant challenge. Thus, I aimed to produce four articles each month.
Chapter 2: The Call to Write
I’ve always had a passion for writing, with dreams of authoring a book on labor history or recounting my military experiences. Over the years, I’ve filled countless notebooks with ideas and notes from labor classes.
Last year, I stumbled upon Medium, a platform that encourages everyone—from seasoned writers to those like me, with only a high school diploma—to share their stories. Intrigued, I decided to write about the auto workers' strike. The research felt rewarding, but then life got in the way again. A few months later, I managed to pen another article on organized labor, and to my delight, it garnered my first views. While I hadn’t made any money yet, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
After taking a break for the holidays, I revisited my old notes and crafted an insightful piece on politics and slavery, reigniting my enthusiasm. The article went live on January 7th, and to date… drumroll, please… I’ve received just two reads and earned four cents! Still, I find immense joy in this process. My old notes finally found a purpose, and I learned that writing is incredibly challenging.
Section 2.1: Personal Reflections
One of the most heartfelt pieces I wrote is titled "My Long Journey With The Boss," expressing my deep appreciation for Bruce Springsteen and how his music resonates with my life experiences. Written in February, it has generated $5.66, and I couldn’t be happier knowing fourteen people dedicated their time—seven minutes, to be precise—to engage with my thoughts on the New Jersey icon.
I never anticipated how beneficial writing would be for my soul. I discovered that reflecting on my fond memories of my beagle or exploring photography could provide healing that no therapist could match. While these two articles may not amount to ten dollars, the inner peace they brought me is priceless.
In conclusion, my experience on Medium has taught me the value of persistence and self-expression, regardless of financial gain.