This is super interesting - thanks for the transparency. I've written close to 300 articles, and I'm just now starting to see "decent" earnings. That said, I committed to writing daily (and I make just about every day) and that consistency has paid off - another key is engagement. Reading other work and letting writers know you appreciate it. Finally, there's really no substitute for quality. Sure, I may read one of your articles, but if your writing is not good or the grammar is off, I'll find someone else to read. So, consistency, engagement, quality - that's a winning formula.