14 Killer Ideas for Writing ‘Filler’ Stories

Summary

The web content discusses the strategic use of "filler" stories to complement feature stories in a publishing schedule, which helps maintain reader engagement and provides economic benefits.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of balancing feature stories with shorter "filler" content to keep readers interested and to maintain a steady publishing schedule. It suggests that while features require more time and effort, fillers can be quicker to produce and still offer value to the audience. The author, drawing from traditional publishing methods, argues that a mix of long-form and short-form content prevents reader fatigue and keeps the audience engaged between major publications. Additionally, the article highlights the economic advantages of fillers, noting that they can be lucrative and require less effort than features. The author provides examples of successful filler stories and a list of ideas for creating engaging short-form content.

Opinions

The author believes in the effectiveness of the traditional publishing model that combines feature and filler stories to retain reader interest.
It is the author's opinion that too many long-form pieces can intimidate or bore readers, while too many short-form pieces may lead to skimming without deep engagement.
The author suggests that maintaining momentum after publishing a successful feature is crucial and can be achieved by offering filler content as "appetizers" between main "courses."
The economic benefit of fillers is strongly emphasized, with the author stating that well-crafted fillers can be financially rewarding, even leading to opportunities with established publications.
The author advocates for the use of social media and sponsored content as fillers that can contribute to monthly earnings with minimal effort.
The author provides a list of ideas for fillers, indicating a belief that they should be easy to create, offer value to the reader, and foster a sense of community.

And why you need them to plump up your publishing schedule

I’m a firm believer in splitting my attention between two distinct types of stories in my publishing schedule: features and fillers.

It’s an old-school method of retaining the reader’s attention, developed by publishers with far more inside knowledge than I have.

Pick up any print magazine or newspaper. Every last one of them consists of a pleasant-to-peruse blend of features and fillers. Publishers figured out long ago that too many long-form pieces not only intimidate the reader but bore them. Too many short-form pieces encourage skimming.

But a mix of the two pulls both speed readers and deep readers into the blender like chocolate chips into cookie dough.

How to create the perfect mix to keep your readers hooked

While you toil over your fabulous feature stories — which should almost always take longer than a day to write, edit, polish and publish — you risk losing reader attention.

Look at it this way, when you publish a brilliant feature — the kind that lights up your existing readership base and even grows it — you never want to let that momentum slip for too long. You can hope readers dig for older work to read, but a far smarter option is to feed their hunger with appetizing small bites between features as a top chef between courses.

The other reason for writing fillers is purely economic

Fillers done well earn money. My very first published print piece in a well-known magazine was barely more than a photo with a caption, but it earned me a decent paycheck and got my foot in the door at Texas Highways.

Online, fillers can often boost your monthly earnings with very little effort. Think sponsored tweets, Instagram posts, and Facebook. I have been paid as much as $200 for a sponsored tweet for a travel company.

Here on Medium, strategically placed short-form posts that take you half an hour or less to create can add real dollars to your income.

Ideas for fillers

Intros to your own features

Rants about news or daily life

Humor

Shout outs to the work of other writers

Counterpoints to something you disagree with

Responses to social media posts

Expanded comments on someone else’s story

Answers to questions on your own stories

Teasers for your next feature

Celebrations of a story doing well for you

Short reviews of events, music, or shows

Quick bits of advice

Personal tidbits that let the reader see the real you

Anything you can think of that gives something of value to your reader and your community

14 Killer Ideas for Writing ‘Filler’ Stories

And why you need them to plump up your publishing schedule

How to create the perfect mix to keep your readers hooked

The other reason for writing fillers is purely economic

Ideas for fillers

My top recent filler stories: