100 Followers: Why This “Small” Milestone Made Me Cry

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Okay, I know this post is incredibly cheesy. 100 followers isn’t exactly breaking the internet, but yesterday I reached that milestone… and promptly burst into tears. Let me explain this unexpected waterworks…

For a long time on Medium, 100 followers was the magic number to unlock potential earnings.

While that’s changed, the milestone still holds a lot of power for many writers, including me. Honestly, I usually roll my eyes at overly-sentimental posts, but the emotions are real, folks!

The Lonely Start

I started writing in 2023, but with no followers, I felt invisible. That sense of failure made me quit. I convinced myself that no one cared about what I had to say.

But something shifted when I came back in January 2024.

I decided to give it my all, even if I was still writing into the void. I promised myself to focus on finding my voice and connecting with readers, not just chasing numbers.

The Power of 14 Cents

I won’t lie, seeing my first earnings for January — a whole 14 cents — was a rush!