avatarSmillew Rahcuef

Summary

The article "10 Writers Who Should Stop Writing Listicles" criticizes the overuse and ineffectiveness of listicle articles by highlighting specific authors who frequently employ this format, often to unimpressive results.

Abstract

In a satirical take on the prevalence of listicles in online writing, the author of "10 Writers Who Should Stop Writing Listicles" calls out ten writers for their excessive use of the listicle format. The piece, which foregoes a traditional introduction in favor of getting straight to the point, argues that listicles are often unfunny, uninteresting, and a detriment to the writers' other, potentially more substantial work. The article specifically mentions writers like Kristen Stark, Kristine Laco, and Reuben Salsa, among others, providing examples of their listicles and the negative reception they've received. The author suggests that these writers should cease writing listicles to focus on more meaningful content, and even encourages readers to contribute to the cause by clapping for the article, with the goal of reaching a certain number of claps to persuade one of the writers to quit the practice.

Opinions

  • The author believes that listicles, particularly those written by the mentioned writers, are generally not funny or engaging.
  • There is a sentiment that the popularity of listicles distracts writers from producing more substantial and original content.
  • The author implies that readers are tired of the listicle format and are ready for more insightful and less formulaic writing.
  • The article suggests that listicles can trivialize important topics and that writers like Paul Mansfield should focus on their more serious work, such as transgressive fiction.
  • The author uses humor and satire to criticize the self-referential nature of listicles that often explain American culture to Americans, deeming it unnecessary and redundant.
  • By mentioning a writer who provided a guide on writing listicles, the author points out the irony and the problematic nature of the format's popularity.
  • The article encourages active reader participation to dissuade writers from producing listicles, indicating a collective desire for change in content quality.

Hopefully, they will read this and listen to me for once

10 Writers Who Should Stop Writing Listicles

They are not the only ones

Photo of the author, stopping the listicles, by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash

I know you would like to read a witty introduction that would also have the advantage of extending the reading time of this piece, but this is a listicle.

Deal with it.

#1 — Kristen Stark

There’s a reason these jokes bombed on stage, Stark, and it’s the same reason you should stop writing listicles: they’re not funny.

#2 — Kristine Laco

She’s one of these Canadians who think Americans are interested in anything else but themselves.

Weird, I know.

Even if Canadian Thanksgiving was better than US Thanksgiving, nobody cares. For the whole world — save for Canada, apparently — Thanksgiving happens only in the US.

#3 — Reuben Salsa

Don’t tell me you’re surprised to find him here. I know Grimsby Hackney agrees.

Here’s what he had to say about one of Reuben’s listicles: “[…] it’s Reuben Salsa’s lazy fucking 100 things shit. I just wish I’d had the balls to say so at the time. From what I hear his squalid little article […]”

#5 — Christopher Robin

Christopher wrote one good listicle, and he will hopefully stop there (I highly doubt this will happen).

The main problem is that his one good listicle inspired Reuben Salsa to write more listicles — that’s enough to beg Christopher to stop. And remind Reuben he should stop (see point #3).

#6 — Bicho do Mato

Bicho made the ultimate sacrifice. He wrote a listicle to tell us why we shouldn’t write listicles. He even gave us ten reasons.

Thank you, Bicho.

#7 — Paul Mansfield

It’s not so much that Paul has awful musical tastes (he does) here. The problem is that by writing listicles nobody reads and song lists nobody listens to, Paul has less time to write transgressive fiction. And we all love Paul’s transgressive fiction.

#8 — Michael Burg

Doctor Funny’s a different case (a nut-case). His listicle was so good that he’ll never be able to beat that and should stop there.

#9 — Patrick Eades

Patrick is another of these writers trying to explain America to Americans. Worse! He uses a listicle format to do so.

Nonsense, Patrick. Pure nonsense.

Americans don’t like listicles because they have elaborate tastes. And they don’t need your explanations because they perfectly understand how their country works, as shown in the heartfelt ways their political class behaves.

#10 — Smillew Rahcuef

This writer generally doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he gives his worst when writing listicles.

STOP him today by clapping for this article. He promised to quit writing listicles if this article gets 2,222 claps (or more).

Disclosure: I stole the idea and the title of this piece from this article:

Full disclosure: I wrote the said article.

If you want to see your name in the follow-up article 10 More Writers Who Should Stop Writing Listicles, drop a link to your worst listicle in the comments.

Ps: Did you think I wouldn’t tag you? You fools!

In order of appearance:

Humor
Social Media
Social Media Marketing
Listicles
Writers Life
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