Is writing on Medium worth it anymore?

I find myself asking this a lot

I’ve had Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” running through my head on repeat with the volume UP. If I’m honest, that’s how I feel right now—like I’m running up that hill and am thoroughly exhausted. I can’t get ahead. I can’t even get caught up.

The discouragement is real.

A few years ago, I was working as a full-time writer. Now, I’m a full-time writer plus social media coordinator, occasional DoorDash driver, homesteader, journalist, and maybe life coach (anyone interested?). It’s a lot. I’ve started thinking that maybe Medium isn’t a platform for real writers anymore. It used to be. It was for a long time. But they’ve slashed the Partner Program so many times that it’s gone from a full-time income to a sad side hustle.

Writing is work. It’s bleeding ink on the page. But my content writing jobs mostly went to AI. My Medium reads dropped off a cliff. Everything I once counted on was taken away.

I’ve been creative, resourceful, and thrifty. I’ve figured things out, got hit with another challenge, and figured things out again. But I’m hitting a wall.

So, here I am … restarting my Substack in hopes that this can help me right whatever has gone so wrong.

What will you get here?

You’re sure to get some pet-love content. Definitely some gardening and homesteading information. Relationship advice is likely. Mental health content? Absolutely!

You’ll get heart and soul with a little bit of dirt on ‘em both. But it’s that good dirt—the kind that’s come from sh*t being thrown at me and turned into fertilizer, dirt that’s been through sun and rain, dirt that helps good things grow strong and beautiful. If you want some of that good dirt writing, follow me. Subscribe. Tell your friends.

And know that you’re going to get that soul-level truth whether I’m writing about my chickens or my heartache.

Love y’all,

CJ