5 answers
CHIEMENA
Student
Enugu, Nigeria
1
Question
Asked
492 views
I just started writing short stories a while ago. It's been a very good experience for me. I write on Medium and my friends commend my writing. How do I get more people to read them? Again, how long do you think I should take before I start earning from my writing? I still wonder if there's anywhere I can work to get earnings for my stories. You know of any place?
I'm just eighteen, and I thought I loved romantic stories, but it seems I'll have to grow on that too. I want to do what I love and earn from it as well. Writing short stories , for me will be a kind of dream job. So help me out. Thanks for this platform.
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5 answers
Saint P
SongWriter and Creative writer
38
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Saint’s Answer
Hey Chiemena,
That's awesome you're diving into short stories and already getting praise from friends! To get more readers and start earning, here are some suggestions:
1. Post Regularly: Keep writing and posting consistently. The more you put out, the more people will find your stuff.
2. Engage with Readers: Respond to comments and interact with other writers. Building a network can bring in more eyes to your work.
3. Promote on Social Media: Share your stories on Instagram, Twitter, or even TikTok. You never know who might stumble upon your work.
4. Explore Freelance Writing: Sites like Upwork or Fiverr can help you find paid gigs. Freelance work is a good way to start making money from your writing.
5. Medium Partner Program: You can join Medium's Partner Program once you have some posts up. It’s based on how much engagement you get, so consistency helps here too.
6. Self-Publish: Consider turning your stories into eBooks and selling them on Amazon. If you’ve got a collection of short stories, this could work for you.
As for how long before you start earning it varies. It could take a few months for Medium, or quicker if you start freelance writing or self-publishing.
Just keep writing, and if this is your dream job, stick with it... it’ll pay off.
Good Luck
Saint
That's awesome you're diving into short stories and already getting praise from friends! To get more readers and start earning, here are some suggestions:
1. Post Regularly: Keep writing and posting consistently. The more you put out, the more people will find your stuff.
2. Engage with Readers: Respond to comments and interact with other writers. Building a network can bring in more eyes to your work.
3. Promote on Social Media: Share your stories on Instagram, Twitter, or even TikTok. You never know who might stumble upon your work.
4. Explore Freelance Writing: Sites like Upwork or Fiverr can help you find paid gigs. Freelance work is a good way to start making money from your writing.
5. Medium Partner Program: You can join Medium's Partner Program once you have some posts up. It’s based on how much engagement you get, so consistency helps here too.
6. Self-Publish: Consider turning your stories into eBooks and selling them on Amazon. If you’ve got a collection of short stories, this could work for you.
As for how long before you start earning it varies. It could take a few months for Medium, or quicker if you start freelance writing or self-publishing.
Just keep writing, and if this is your dream job, stick with it... it’ll pay off.
Good Luck
Saint
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian-Nutritionist & Software Developer since 1972 🡆 Optimization Of Human Performance
7220
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Chiemena!
How to Get More Readers for Your Short Stories
MY TAKE:-
People now are saying that you can write a pretty big book in half an hour or an hour with artificial intelligence. Platforms like Grammarly can make the text more readable and check the spelling errors but I'm sure AI will be doing a bit of that itself.
Surely any text that teaches life-skills is indispensible. For instance many people need instructions in dealing with bereavement, finances, grief, raising children, relationships, the law.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:-
Utilize Social Media: Leverage platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share snippets of your stories or engage with potential readers. Use relevant hashtags such as amwriting, shortstories, and writerscommunity to reach a broader audience.
Engage with Writing Communities: Join online writing communities such as Wattpad, Scribophile, or Reddit’s r/writing. These platforms allow you to share your work and receive feedback while also connecting with other writers and readers.
Optimize Your Medium Profile: Since you are already writing on Medium, ensure that your profile is complete and engaging. Write a compelling bio that reflects your passion for storytelling and consider joining Medium publications that align with your genre to gain more visibility.
Network with Other Writers: Collaborate with other writers by guest posting on each other’s blogs or sharing each other’s work on social media. Building relationships within the writing community can help you tap into their audiences.
Participate in Writing Contests: Look for short story contests that offer exposure or publication opportunities. Winning or placing in these contests can significantly boost your visibility.
Consistent Posting Schedule: Establish a regular posting schedule on Medium or any other platform you choose. Consistency helps build an audience as readers will know when to expect new content from you.
Email Newsletter: Consider starting an email newsletter where you can share updates about your writing journey, new stories, and exclusive content for subscribers.
Seek Feedback and Improve: Actively seek constructive criticism from peers or mentors in the writing community to improve your craft continuously.
Earning from Your Writing
Medium Partner Program: If you’re publishing on Medium, consider joining the Medium Partner Program, which allows you to earn money based on reader engagement with your stories.
Self-Publishing: Explore self-publishing options through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) where you can publish eBooks of your short stories and earn royalties from sales.
Freelance Writing Opportunities: Websites like Upwork or Fiverr allow you to find freelance writing gigs where clients pay for articles, stories, or other written content.
Writing Contests and Grants: Look for literary contests that offer cash prizes or grants for writers; these can provide financial support while also enhancing your portfolio.
Patreon or Ko-fi Accounts: Consider setting up a Patreon or Ko-fi account where fans of your work can support you financially in exchange for exclusive content or early access to new stories.
Anthologies and Magazines: Submit your short stories to literary magazines or anthologies that pay for published works; this not only provides income but also adds credibility to your writing portfolio.
In terms of how long it might take before you start earning from your writing, it varies widely based on factors such as the quality of your work, consistency in publishing, marketing efforts, and audience engagement levels. Some writers may start earning within months if they actively pursue opportunities while others may take years to establish a steady income stream from their writing endeavors.
The journey of becoming a successful writer often involves continuous learning and adaptation; therefore, patience is essential as you develop both your skills and audience over time.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
Medium Partner Program Overview: This source provides detailed information about how writers can monetize their content on Medium through reader engagement.
Wattpad Community Guidelines: This source outlines how writers can engage with readers on Wattpad while sharing their work effectively within the community.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): This source explains the process of self-publishing eBooks through Amazon KDP along with potential earnings from book sales.
Probability the answer is correct: 95%
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
|=========================God Bless You, Richly!===========================|
|===========================James Constantine===========================|
|==================THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DIETITIAN===================|
|==============Programming For Your Nutrition Education======================|
|==========================~ Since 1972!================================|
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
How to Get More Readers for Your Short Stories
MY TAKE:-
People now are saying that you can write a pretty big book in half an hour or an hour with artificial intelligence. Platforms like Grammarly can make the text more readable and check the spelling errors but I'm sure AI will be doing a bit of that itself.
Surely any text that teaches life-skills is indispensible. For instance many people need instructions in dealing with bereavement, finances, grief, raising children, relationships, the law.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:-
Utilize Social Media: Leverage platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to share snippets of your stories or engage with potential readers. Use relevant hashtags such as amwriting, shortstories, and writerscommunity to reach a broader audience.
Engage with Writing Communities: Join online writing communities such as Wattpad, Scribophile, or Reddit’s r/writing. These platforms allow you to share your work and receive feedback while also connecting with other writers and readers.
Optimize Your Medium Profile: Since you are already writing on Medium, ensure that your profile is complete and engaging. Write a compelling bio that reflects your passion for storytelling and consider joining Medium publications that align with your genre to gain more visibility.
Network with Other Writers: Collaborate with other writers by guest posting on each other’s blogs or sharing each other’s work on social media. Building relationships within the writing community can help you tap into their audiences.
Participate in Writing Contests: Look for short story contests that offer exposure or publication opportunities. Winning or placing in these contests can significantly boost your visibility.
Consistent Posting Schedule: Establish a regular posting schedule on Medium or any other platform you choose. Consistency helps build an audience as readers will know when to expect new content from you.
Email Newsletter: Consider starting an email newsletter where you can share updates about your writing journey, new stories, and exclusive content for subscribers.
Seek Feedback and Improve: Actively seek constructive criticism from peers or mentors in the writing community to improve your craft continuously.
Earning from Your Writing
Medium Partner Program: If you’re publishing on Medium, consider joining the Medium Partner Program, which allows you to earn money based on reader engagement with your stories.
Self-Publishing: Explore self-publishing options through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) where you can publish eBooks of your short stories and earn royalties from sales.
Freelance Writing Opportunities: Websites like Upwork or Fiverr allow you to find freelance writing gigs where clients pay for articles, stories, or other written content.
Writing Contests and Grants: Look for literary contests that offer cash prizes or grants for writers; these can provide financial support while also enhancing your portfolio.
Patreon or Ko-fi Accounts: Consider setting up a Patreon or Ko-fi account where fans of your work can support you financially in exchange for exclusive content or early access to new stories.
Anthologies and Magazines: Submit your short stories to literary magazines or anthologies that pay for published works; this not only provides income but also adds credibility to your writing portfolio.
In terms of how long it might take before you start earning from your writing, it varies widely based on factors such as the quality of your work, consistency in publishing, marketing efforts, and audience engagement levels. Some writers may start earning within months if they actively pursue opportunities while others may take years to establish a steady income stream from their writing endeavors.
The journey of becoming a successful writer often involves continuous learning and adaptation; therefore, patience is essential as you develop both your skills and audience over time.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
Medium Partner Program Overview: This source provides detailed information about how writers can monetize their content on Medium through reader engagement.
Wattpad Community Guidelines: This source outlines how writers can engage with readers on Wattpad while sharing their work effectively within the community.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): This source explains the process of self-publishing eBooks through Amazon KDP along with potential earnings from book sales.
Probability the answer is correct: 95%
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
|=========================God Bless You, Richly!===========================|
|===========================James Constantine===========================|
|==================THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DIETITIAN===================|
|==============Programming For Your Nutrition Education======================|
|==========================~ Since 1972!================================|
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Michelle M.
Actress
2205
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Chemena !
It is always wonderful to hear that more young people are embarking on a career as a Writer ! It is a special calling because it is something you can do all of your life. You have many opportunities ahead of you. We all have to start out and dedicate much time, effort and, yes, networking to make contacts. Writing is more than putting words on paper or online.
There are places online that you can share your writing and I have left a few links for those websites for you below. These websites will indeed provide you with a different audience, but no one can tell you or guide you to any specific amount of people that will read your work. Branching out on various platforms like the ones below will give you different possible readership. Try not to focus on who or how many are reading your work. There will be ways to know as time goes on, you get published or it's on a website with a counter. You can also register at Linked In as a Writer and post your short stories or shorter works on there.
I really don't advise using social media for this because they are not literary based or professionally based and you'd basically have your friends and family being the possible ones that would specifically go to your account. At least Linked In is for professionals/work oriented so you can follow people who may read your work and readily see possible writing projects that you can submit your writing to.. Follow fellow writers, publishers, Writers Journals, and literary agents. You can also provide the link to your work from these websites when publishers or companies ask for an example of your work, which they will.
No one can answer how long it will be until you get your first paid writing project. Your best bet is to go to University for Literature or Creative Writing as I realize there are no two year community college systems in your country. If you do not want to go to university, do a search for online creative writing courses. It's best to interact for your writing in person, though. There are no writing communities in your town either, so I would suggest visiting the secondary school that you are in or graduated from and speak with the English teachers there for leads or referrals to any writing groups. No one can tell you when you will start getting paid - it's a process of writing and sending out your work and waiting to hear back. It's not a nine to five job where you are a staff writer. You start out writing by yourself and become aware of opportunities as they come along.
Something that will help your chances for work would be to aim for versatility. Learn how to write articles, essays, instructional articles, plays or screenplays and commercials. I strongly advise a University education because it will take you far as a writer due to the networking factor and you will have lots of opportunity to work on projects to get experience that everyone needs for a career.
Even though no one can predict how your career will go, the important thing is to enjoy your writing as you do it. Each thing you write is a special creation. Don't stay alone in this, reach out to your former or current school, friends and family who may know paid writers and take things slowly and a step at a time. Don't give up. You can do this !
I hope this helps and I wish you the very best moving forward !
A PLACE TO WRITE STORIES THAT PEOPLE CAN READ - WATT PAD https://www.wattpad.com/
IF YOU WRITE A NOVEL PUT IT ON INKITT - https://www.inkitt.com/
ELECTRIC LITERATURE FOR ESSAYS AND ARTICLES https://electricliterature.com/
FICTIONAUT - A PLACE TO PUT YOUR WRITING http://fictionaut.com/
SHARE YOUR WORK ON REEDSY PROMPTS https://blog.reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/
It is always wonderful to hear that more young people are embarking on a career as a Writer ! It is a special calling because it is something you can do all of your life. You have many opportunities ahead of you. We all have to start out and dedicate much time, effort and, yes, networking to make contacts. Writing is more than putting words on paper or online.
There are places online that you can share your writing and I have left a few links for those websites for you below. These websites will indeed provide you with a different audience, but no one can tell you or guide you to any specific amount of people that will read your work. Branching out on various platforms like the ones below will give you different possible readership. Try not to focus on who or how many are reading your work. There will be ways to know as time goes on, you get published or it's on a website with a counter. You can also register at Linked In as a Writer and post your short stories or shorter works on there.
I really don't advise using social media for this because they are not literary based or professionally based and you'd basically have your friends and family being the possible ones that would specifically go to your account. At least Linked In is for professionals/work oriented so you can follow people who may read your work and readily see possible writing projects that you can submit your writing to.. Follow fellow writers, publishers, Writers Journals, and literary agents. You can also provide the link to your work from these websites when publishers or companies ask for an example of your work, which they will.
No one can answer how long it will be until you get your first paid writing project. Your best bet is to go to University for Literature or Creative Writing as I realize there are no two year community college systems in your country. If you do not want to go to university, do a search for online creative writing courses. It's best to interact for your writing in person, though. There are no writing communities in your town either, so I would suggest visiting the secondary school that you are in or graduated from and speak with the English teachers there for leads or referrals to any writing groups. No one can tell you when you will start getting paid - it's a process of writing and sending out your work and waiting to hear back. It's not a nine to five job where you are a staff writer. You start out writing by yourself and become aware of opportunities as they come along.
Something that will help your chances for work would be to aim for versatility. Learn how to write articles, essays, instructional articles, plays or screenplays and commercials. I strongly advise a University education because it will take you far as a writer due to the networking factor and you will have lots of opportunity to work on projects to get experience that everyone needs for a career.
Even though no one can predict how your career will go, the important thing is to enjoy your writing as you do it. Each thing you write is a special creation. Don't stay alone in this, reach out to your former or current school, friends and family who may know paid writers and take things slowly and a step at a time. Don't give up. You can do this !
I hope this helps and I wish you the very best moving forward !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Lindsey Flagg
Freelancer
8
Answers
Crown Point, Indiana
Updated
Lindsey’s Answer
Hello!
Here are some suggestions I have for promoting your Medium articles for a better chance of gaining followers and readers:
1. Join the Medium Partner Program: Depending on your budget and how active you are on Medium, you may be able to join the Partner Program. There are currently no follower requirements to join but you will have to sign up for Stripe and complete some other steps, so make sure you research the requirements before joining. This step may impact the other steps, so I really recommend joining the program before you move on.
2. Share your stories: You can share your content outside of Medium to platforms such as Reddit or LinkedIn. Keep in mind that if your articles are behind a paywall, their reach may be limited to those with active Medium accounts or subscriptions.
3. Submit to Medium publications: You can submit your existing Medium stories to relevant Medium publications for even greater reach. You can also write new stories and submit them. Consider researching relevant publications that are likely to accept your work on Medium itself, Google, or Reddit, and make sure you meet all editorial guidelines before submitting.
Best of luck to you!
Once your Medium profile has bulked up some, start applying to writing jobs on sites such as LinkedIn or Indeed. There are often ghostwriter jobs available for short story projects and similar ones, such as scriptwriting or novel writing.
Consider entering fiction contests online for a chance at earning from your stories and getting them in front of more eyes.
Submit to literary magazines or websites that accept story submissions on your chosen topics.
Write stories on Wattpad or your own blog to find another new audience and get feedback on your work.
Consider publishing your work to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing to potentially start earning from your stories.
Here are some suggestions I have for promoting your Medium articles for a better chance of gaining followers and readers:
1. Join the Medium Partner Program: Depending on your budget and how active you are on Medium, you may be able to join the Partner Program. There are currently no follower requirements to join but you will have to sign up for Stripe and complete some other steps, so make sure you research the requirements before joining. This step may impact the other steps, so I really recommend joining the program before you move on.
2. Share your stories: You can share your content outside of Medium to platforms such as Reddit or LinkedIn. Keep in mind that if your articles are behind a paywall, their reach may be limited to those with active Medium accounts or subscriptions.
3. Submit to Medium publications: You can submit your existing Medium stories to relevant Medium publications for even greater reach. You can also write new stories and submit them. Consider researching relevant publications that are likely to accept your work on Medium itself, Google, or Reddit, and make sure you meet all editorial guidelines before submitting.
Best of luck to you!
Lindsey recommends the following next steps:
Richard Caldwell
Broker
16
Answers
New Windsor, Maryland
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Writing on topics that you enjoy is the place to start. Many organizations offer prizes for different kinds of stories. A Google search should bring up a bunch of them. Look for the ones that offer prize money without an entry fee.
LinkedIn often posts jobs for paid writers. Submit articles or stories to local newspapers or magazines, such as Writer's Digest. They often run competitions.
Google searches can find a host of potential outlets for your writing. Operate a blog and write something daily to attract readership.
Use social media and join writer's groups who often know other outlets for your work.
Word of caution here, hopefully, it will not burst your bubble of enthusiasm.
It will take time to gain a following and to build recognition for your work. Time is one thing you have in your favor. Make the most of it , and never give up on your dream.
Good luck
LinkedIn often posts jobs for paid writers. Submit articles or stories to local newspapers or magazines, such as Writer's Digest. They often run competitions.
Google searches can find a host of potential outlets for your writing. Operate a blog and write something daily to attract readership.
Use social media and join writer's groups who often know other outlets for your work.
Word of caution here, hopefully, it will not burst your bubble of enthusiasm.
It will take time to gain a following and to build recognition for your work. Time is one thing you have in your favor. Make the most of it , and never give up on your dream.
Good luck