# I Wish I Knew This When I Started Writing

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I wish I knew this when I started writing on Medium. But I learned it the hard way.

I hope this story makes someone else’s journey a little easier.

Because, here’s the hard truth: Within the first 6–12 months, nearly 90% of new writers give up.†

And, I could have been one of them.

I had spent weeks writing my first story, carefully crafting the title, flow, and images.  
The story was a reflection on my 20+ years as a software engineer.

Then… silence. No claps. No comments.

Today, that story has:

* 21 claps — all from a single kind reader (thank you!)
    
* 0 comments
    
* $0.03 in lifetime earnings
    

It was disheartening. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

That silence forced me to reflect.  
I kept writing, but now carrying a question with me: *What’s missing?*

That journey led me to many insights — I’ve listed them at the end.  
But one realization that changed everything for me was:

> **Not to plant the flag before I’ve found the land.**

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When I joined Medium, I asked myself, *“What should I write about?”*  
I reflected on my life and chose what I knew: tech careers and financial progress.

I made that decision *before* I started writing.  
I planted the flag *before* I’d found the land.

And when those stories didn’t get any love, I started doubting myself.  
*Maybe I’m not cut out to be a writer?*

The problem wasn’t my writing.  
The problem was the box I put myself in — a self-imposed limit on what I should write about.

Once I saw it, I decided to get out of that box — and write freely.

I gave myself permission to explore.

I started writing stories across genres, topics and themes: Fiction, non-fiction, crime, love, drama, personalities, personal growth—I even tried *humor*.

I paid attention. To what resonated with readers — and what felt fulfilling to me while writing.

Before long, that overlap revealed itself: **short stories**.

Now, I focus on short stories — not bound to any specific genre and still open to exploring beyond them.

What Happened Next?

* One story featured as a Top Story on a popular Medium publication.
    
* Others received hundreds of reads and claps, and comments.
    
* Within weeks, I crossed **100+ engaged followers**, *without any gimmicks*.
    

> If short stories are your kind of thing too, join me on Substack at Short Escapes  
> And get the short stories delivered straight to your inbox.

[![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754944396245/059fd1f9-cfb6-44c7-8140-d10b9fb2fec7.png align="center")](https://prakashchougule.substack.com/)

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## Five More Lessons I Learned So Far

* Avoid the trap of clap-for-clap and follow-for-follow.  
    *What sticks is real engagement.*
    
* Read widely and intentionally — both popular and new writers, across genres.  
    *That’s where learning happens.*
    
* Engage with fellow writers. Clap, comment, and follow what *resonates* with you.  
    *What goes around, comes around.*
    
* Find publications that make you feel at home: publish stories there, join writing challenges.  
    *It’s the most natural way to reach your readers.*
    
* Revisit your own writing. Read it days later — as a reader, not a writer.  
    *That’s when the growth happens.*
    

I wish you the best — my fellow writers! Let’s keep learning, growing, and writing — together.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1754944587195/aab23748-870a-40b1-891e-e285d295a926.png align="center")

> *†Medium does not publish official statistics on writer attrition. Available data is anecdotal:* [*source*](https://medium.com/practice-in-public/90-of-writers-quit-become-resilient-grow-with-this-process-7a82cbc63035)