How to be a Successful Writer (Written by an Unsuccessful Writer)
Good Writing Gives Back
My recent article about getting to 100 followers has been my most active post by far. This got me thinking about writing on Medium and how it’s really all about giving back.
You might not be able to offer people a ‘follow for follow’ on every article and it might not even be a sustainable long term strategy for success, but it is interesting that the Medium articles that shoot to the top are ones that promise to give you something in return for your attention.
I like to imagine that one day thousands of people will flock to my page for the mere quality and insights that I provide — it’s just a matter of time! But truthfully I know that reading takes effort, and so writing needs to give a sufficient payoff to justify that effort.
Actually, I think there is no difference between the two: High quality writing is writing that gives back.
And this is how (I think)
1. Solve a problem
Think about what headlines you look at and click on.
I actually cringed a bit at my own title on this article, because I’m no expert on being a successful writer, but I knew that had my title been ‘Good Writing Gives Back’, nobody would have clicked on it.
But by phrasing it as a question that solves a problem that many on Medium are probably interested in — it grabs people’s attention.
Think about other headlines that have promised a solution to something that’s actually been on your mind recently.
It’s like that article was written just for you.
You can’t help but click on it.
But that’s obviously only half the battle.
The other half is finding a way to answer the problem that you have set out in your headline. The hope is that readers will leave feeling satisfied and happy having read your post.
How to do that is a question for a different day. Or for the comments section.
2. Inspire some joy!
Renuka Gavrani hardly needs my endorsement. With over 12,000 followers and a rapidly growing portfolio of articles, she is doing quite well!
But that’s not why I’m mentioning her…
Within Gavrani’s articles there lies an excellent model for how to write with such a compelling narrative and such a distinctive, personable voice that makes you feel like it’s all well worth your time.
None of it is arduous. The style teeters on the conversational and so it doesn’t feel like a massive effort for the payout of the article. Everything flows. Everything is energetic.
There is also an inherent honesy to Gavrani’s content which also keeps you invested.
I wouldn’t suggest copying or even emulating another writer’s style, but my feeling is that the promised pay off has to match the cost of mental effort and Renuka’s content does that better than I could ever explain it.
3. Share the love
This one’s not really about ‘writing’ as much as ‘being a writer’ on Medium.
I have started changing my own mentality on Medium now. I give my attention generously. I leave claps and comments and I seek out a variety of new and established writers.
I think that Medium is a community as much as anything. Make connections, support each other, be constructive, and have an open mind.
We’re stronger together.
Now, if you have read this far you’ll probably have noticed that handing out writing advice is hardly my business! I’m just stumbling around with this thing.
But early on in my process, these are my reflections. I would love to hear comments on what you think giving writing is so that I can develop my understanding.
