Chapter 1: The Experiment Unveiled

This narrative is tailored for writers who aspire to earn additional income. The primary intent behind placing your stories behind a paywall is to ensure you receive compensation for your literary creations. For those of us who write out of sheer passion, any financial reward becomes a delightful bonus.

I am passionate about writing and sharing my stories and poetry to inspire others. When I discovered that I could be compensated for my work, it felt like an unexpected perk. This financial support even covers my Medium Membership fees, allowing me to give back to fellow writers whose work I cherish. While the earnings may be modest, the time I invest in engaging with other writers is, in my view, far more significant.

Recently, I asked my daughter to conduct an investigation. I wanted to see how much content a non-paying member could access. The results were eye-opening: she managed to read nearly all of my poems and most short stories without any barriers. For pieces that were 1 to 2 minutes in length, she was able to read almost everything—some in their entirety.

To illustrate this, I’ve included screenshots taken about two hours after posting a 2-minute poem. They depict how many non-paying members accessed my work, as well as the total views during that time frame.

The numbers can be disheartening for those seeking to supplement their income through writing. It was evident that non-paying members were able to read my entire poem, regardless of how many of my stories they had previously consumed.

As I continued my inquiry, I decided to view my own stories as an anonymous user, completely logged out of my account. Using Internet Explorer, I conducted a search for my own work. The results were quite revealing.

I discovered that I could freely access my first poem and read it in its entirety. This prompted me to check my second story, which I was also able to read almost completely.

The same outcome followed for my third story; I was able to read a substantial portion of it before hitting a cut-off point.

Even with a 2-minute poem, I found that I could read the entire piece without having to create an account. I continued exploring more of my poems and stories without any prompts to sign up or pay for a membership.

Chapter 2: The Implications of Unrestricted Access

I was not restricted in my ability to view the stories, despite being unable to interact through comments or claps. I could simply read and move on without spending a dime.

It became apparent to me that poets and short fiction writers might feel particularly vulnerable, as their work is accessible for free, often without any form of protection.

The first video discusses platforms that offer compensation for writing, providing insights into how writers can earn money for their creative efforts.

The second video explores the importance of reading as a writer, questioning whether one can truly write without consuming literature.

In conclusion, this experiment revealed that many non-paying members can enjoy content that is meant to be exclusive to subscribers. For those like me, who earn enough to cover membership fees and support fellow writers, becoming a paying member of Medium seems like the best choice.

I wrote this to acknowledge the hard work of writers who deserve fair compensation for their efforts. They invest their time not only in writing but also in appreciating the works of others, all while maintaining their membership to access this content.

Thank you for taking the time to read my exploration. May you find success in your writing journey!