I hear you, Michelle - and you raised some great points. Honestly, when I see people posting their writing earnings it has always surprised and bugged me. Yes, it was an insight as to the possibilities but it often made me feel inferior - especially if writers were new like me and excelling more at the art than I was. It had the reverse effect.

I'm here because I want to be here and whatever I earn is not needed to pay the bills or survive. I guess I am looking at it from a completely different mindset. It breaks my heart that some writers depend on Medium and it makes me feel guilty that the earnings I make are play money.

It all comes down to choice: the decision to depend on writing as an income versus a hobby. The choice to divulge earnings or not. Each to his/her own!