Section 1.1: The Decision to Leave Freelancing

After producing 150 articles on Fiverr, I vowed never to return. At 25, amidst a quarter-life crisis, I embarked on a journey to uncover my true desires. I traveled extensively, accrued debt, and ultimately discovered my love for writing.

To overcome my financial struggles, I started writing articles on Fiverr, initially charging $5 and eventually scaling up to $50. This turned into a rewarding side hustle, but I eventually walked away due to:

• Untrustworthy buyer requests
• Late-night message notifications
• A profound sense of dissatisfaction

For me, writing is a meditative practice, allowing me to express my thoughts candidly and without restraint. Unfortunately, that freedom diminishes when I write for someone else.

Despite my aversion to marketing and price negotiations, I found freelancing to be fundamentally inefficient — akin to having too many chefs in the kitchen. Thus, when I discovered Medium in 2019, I was thrilled to find a platform that rewarded authentic self-expression. Even more exciting was my recent discovery of additional revenue streams from my Medium articles.

Section 1.2: A Hidden Opportunity

Last year, I uncovered a simple yet lucrative insight that most writers overlook. When you publish an article on Medium, you retain ownership of it. This means you can sell the rights to your articles multiple times while keeping full ownership, thanks to a legal arrangement known as a non-exclusive rights agreement.

This concept is similar to selling or licensing stock images. You pay a fee to comply with copyright laws — in writing, this equates to avoiding plagiarism. I learned this after a Korean English academy approached me to purchase the rights to one of my articles.

Here’s how it unfolded…

One day, I received a private note on one of my stories while checking notifications. Despite initial skepticism, I reached out to Medium to confirm whether I could sell my articles, given that I was also earning through the Medium Partner Program.

To my surprise, I received confirmation that I could proceed.

Section 2.1: Closing the Deal

Once we agreed on a price, finalizing the transaction was straightforward:

1. I found a free stock legal agreement template online.
2. I sent it along with my PayPal details for payment.

And just like that, I was $250 wealthier. I sold the non-exclusive rights to use my article for one year, without restrictions on how it could be utilized.

Feeling as though I had uncovered a new business model, I began exploring the internet for potential buyers. However, as you may know, even the most valuable ideas are worthless if not acted upon.

After about a week of sending cold emails to potential buyers, I lost interest in the idea. While I often wish I were more driven by financial gain, the truth is I write for the joy of it. The additional effort required to seek out buyers wasn’t something I felt passionate about.

That said, if you're more profit-driven than I am, the process is quite simple.

Section 2.2: Getting Started

In essence, you are selling the legal rights to use your written content. This can be advantageous for buyers because:

• The article is pre-written and proven.
• They won’t need to edit or analyze content.
• They can leverage your name as a credible source.

While freelancing may seem like a budget-friendly option for buyers, working with new writers is often a gamble. They can save considerable time and effort by purchasing an article that’s already completed.

Think of it as opting for an off-the-rack suit versus a custom-tailored one — both options have their merits.

As a writer, you only need a few essentials to start reaching out to potential buyers:

• A library of 5–10 articles as your portfolio
• An email template for initial outreach
• A FAQs document to address common inquiries

The process is essentially a cycle of outreach until you find interested buyers. If this concept excites you, I’ve created a comprehensive business plan using ChatGPT, available for download at no cost.

Final Thoughts: Share the Wealth

Though I often wish I were more financially motivated, I find joy in my creative pursuits. Over the past year, I’ve contemplated reigniting my article licensing venture to generate income. Instead, I’ve focused my efforts on exploring my passions.

I hope to share this opportunity with you, so you too can benefit from my insights. No commission is necessary; consider it a gesture of good karma. Pass this knowledge along to someone who may find it useful.

Wishing you great success in your writing endeavors!