Writing the Stories Only You Can Write
You are the secret ingredient that can make readers see everything differently
For those of you who are writing regularly on Medium, you may have noticed that some of your most meticulously researched and well-written articles still don’t get boosted on the platform.
I certainly have, and it’s frustrating. This week I came across this article by a Medium boost nominator,
, who succinctly explained why that it.She asked why one of her high-quality nominated stories wasn’t accepted for boost, and basically the curator said that the post was declined because (and she was paraphrasing at this point) “anyone with access to the internet and a bit of writing chops could have written it”.
Research is important, but let’s face it. Any well-educated person can do it. Writing well is also important, but with practice any reasonably intelligent, creative person can do that too. We need to bring something more to our writing.
As human writers we all tend to put something of ourselves into our writing. That’s why editors can spot AI generated content so easily. But it’s what we put in there that matters.
Is it something unique?
Is it an aspect of our experience or thought process that will really resonate or provide the reader with a simple way to connect the dots and understand a topic?
Is it an anecdote or idea that will help the reader make a connection or mental leap they could not otherwise have made?
Your writing doesn’t have to be about you. Mostly, it won’t be. It just has to contain enough of you that no-one else could have produced the exact same piece of work.
It’s a big ask, but today, try and write a story (or even just a paragraph you can use in a future story) that only you could write. Create something that simply could not exist, if you personally didn’t write it. See what you come up with.
And if you’re writing for Medium boost specifically, you might want to slowly work your way through this list of 100+ boosted stories. You’ll start to see exactly what the curator meant.
Some thoughts from others I’ve been enjoying this week
(I’ll be honest, I’m behind on my reading because it’s been a crazy busy week)
Outdated Advice On The Internet Could Derail Your Growth Journey as a Writer by David McIlroy
Here's a Quick Yet Effective Way to Get More Views on Your Articles by
What else I’ve been up to this week
Reading: Crow Lake by Mary Lawson (loved this one - highly recommend)
Watching: This YouTube video about how (and why) to walk 20,000 steps a day (I currently manage about 7,000 on average).
Enjoying: A fun local music festival
Not enjoying: How I feel after a night partying at a music festival (I may be getting too old for this).
This week’s Medium posts
(Friend links, of course, so you can read for free):
Five Platforms Entrepreneurs Are Using to Fund Their Businesses
How Big Should My Emergency Fund Be, According to My Age and Life Stage?
That’s all for this week. If you’re reading this online, feel free to subscribe to get future posts straight to your inbox.
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I love reading every single thing you hit publish on! I think you're my hero. I can tell that you're disciplined when it comes to writing and I respect that so much.
I will never forget Rick Branch for making me see religion and human nature differently in his book Becoming Nobody. I will never forget Napoleon Hill for helping me face my fear of talking to girls with Think and Grow Rich. I wish to help others open their minds to new possibilities in the same way I've been influenced by others.