Why I Moved All My Content Off Medium and Built My Own Platform
A few years ago, publishing on Medium felt like the smart move. It was clean, easy to use, and full of readers who cared about good writing.
At first, it was a win-win. I could focus on writing, and Medium handled the rest. But over time, the landscape shifted — and it became clear that continuing to publish there was no longer a smart strategy for me.
So, I made the call: I moved all my content off Medium and built The Vault — my own publishing platform. Here’s why I made the move, and why I believe owning your content is no longer optional if you’re serious about your work.
1. Medium’s Shifting Priorities Made It Unstable
Medium has changed direction more times than I can count.
One minute it’s all-in on member paywalls. The next, it’s trying to become a social network. Then it’s pivoting back to prioritizing big-name writers.
I get it — platforms evolve. But as a writer, it’s frustrating (and risky) to build a body of work on someone else’s shifting priorities. Every change Medium made, from visibility algorithms to partner payments, directly impacted how my content performed without me having any say.
Relying on someone else’s platform means you’re always playing by their rules, even when the rules change mid-game.
2. I Was Building Their Business, Not Mine
Let’s be blunt: publishing on Medium benefits Medium first, not the writers.
Sure, you get exposure — maybe. But every time you publish on someone else’s platform, you’re building their brand equity, their audience, their business.
You don’t control the platform, the layout, the reader experience, or the terms. And you’re one policy change away from losing access to your readers or income.
After watching too many creators lose their entire audiences because of platform changes they couldn’t control, I decided to stop giving my best work away to someone else’s walled garden.
3. I Wanted Full Ownership and Control
On The Vault, I control everything:
- What I publish
- How I present it
- How I communicate with readers
- How I monetize my work
- How I protect my content over the long haul
No hidden algorithms. No sudden shifts in priority. No worrying that tomorrow my entire library might become invisible or locked behind a new policy.
Ownership gives you freedom. It’s that simple.
4. Readers Deserve a Better Experience
Medium’s UX has become cluttered and inconsistent. Pop-ups, upsells, sign-up walls — all stuff that gets between the writer and the reader.
I wanted a cleaner, calmer, more respectful experience. Something that made it easy to focus on the ideas without distractions.
The Vault was designed with that in mind: simple, direct, distraction-free reading. If you’re going to spend your time with my work, you deserve a platform that treats you with respect, not like a product to be monetized.
5. The Future Belongs to Creators Who Own Their Work
We’re living in a time when creators have more tools than ever to publish, promote, and profit from their work — without handing over control to tech giants.
If you’re serious about your ideas, serious about your readers, and serious about your future, you need to own your platform.
That’s what The Vault is for me: a place where my work lives safely, grows on my terms, and stays accessible no matter what trends or platforms rise and fall.
Closing Thoughts
Medium still has some great writers. It still has moments of brilliance.
But for me, the risks now outweigh the rewards.
If you’re a writer or creator who’s tired of platform whiplash and wants more stability and control, you might want to start thinking about where your work lives too.
The Vault is just my solution. Yours might look different. But the principle is the same:
Own your platform. Own your future.
Thanks for reading — and if you’d like to see what I’m working on now, you’ll find me over at The Vault.
#StayFrosty!
James C. Burchill
