I like to play a little game, trying to analyze the true motive of writers on Medium. Here are my classifications:

1) Those who want to earn an income by writing. I would wager the psychologists working for Medium have created a formula to keep these people chasing the Medium lottery.

2) Those who are using Medium for their next writing gig, which should pay more. With Medium, they get practice and recognition.

3) Those already writing somewhere else (and being paid) and using Medium supplementing their income and exposure (mostly exposure).

4) Those flogging a book (I am guilty).

5) Those who have developed great life experiences and want to share them with the world. They don't seem to care about income and need only a little recognition. They have the time to write lots.

6) Those who seem to have won the Medium lottery. But they write about the same thing everyday. They are no longer original.

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I have learned a lot from Medium as a reader. But without #4, I would not be here. Very few people are here just because they like reading. We prefer to be read than to read. We have ulterior motives.