2 Reasons Why Listicles Aren’t the End of The World
For writers… and for readers
There are so many articles out there that poke fun at listicles and frame it as a less valuable type of article. I think there’s still value in both reading and writing listicles, especially for novice writers.
Digestible reading structure
As an avid reader both on and off the Medium platform, I want to clarify that I have different “reading moods” throughout the day:
- I limit my early morning and late evening reading to poetry, which are amazing additions to my AM and PM routine.
- I read longer, in-depth articles midday when my attention and energy are its best. When digesting difficult concepts that truly challenge my assumptions and values, I want myself to be fully fed (#BreakfastSquad) and well-rested, knowing that when neither of those conditions is met, I’m less likely to reap the true benefits of the deeper analysis.
- I read listicles when I need a quick break from work but don’t want to end up in the bottomless timeline of social media.
I don’t see listicles as a “lesser” form of writing, but rather one that fits into a different kind of mindset, for a different aspect of my day. The list format provides the neatly bite-sized pieces of information without needing an overwhelming amount of brainpower. It’s also neatly organized enough that if my 5-minute break is over, I can return to the next item on the article with ease.
Structured writing format
Lists are actually a great starting point for anyone embarking on the writing journey. Most of us started writing in grade school with the five-paragraph essay and even the five-line paragraph, which are essentially lists that have a beginning and end items. Raise a hand if you were taught that these were the hamburger buns the list items were the meat!
Others teach that even poetry can start out as a list:
Turns out sometimes, you have to trick teenagers into writing poetry. So I came up with lists. Everyone can write lists. And the first list that I assign is “10 Things I Know to be True.”
Similarly, listicles are a great way for beginner writers to organize their ideas, and in organizing ideas an outline, we often draw deeper connections and find a better order for presenting ideas. It prevents rambling because it presents a clear visual on the balance across points, and whether certain points deserve subpoints, or fit better elsewhere.
I acknowledge that some people are experienced writers, but I also want to support other novice writers like me who are on the same journey of honing this craft. Sure, if you’re an experienced writer, I think the articles encouraging people to step into more complex writing makes total sense. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is important. For novice writers like me, taking bite-sized steps that slowly build upon the experience of writing is equally as important.
Final takeaway
Don’t shy away from Listicles just because they’re frowned upon in a certain sphere of writers. Instead, take bite-sized steps of your own to build on your writing and organizational skills. Listicles hold their own space within (and frankly outside of) the Medium sphere and are popular because the diversity in the types of articles is out there is what keeps us reading.
Lucy (The Egg Girl) is an avid list-maker, stationery hoarder and bookworm.
What’s your next big adventure? 🐇
- 🍳A random post: It’s difficult to write daily for Medium, and that’s okay
- 💖A post that deserves more love: How do you deal with manuscript rejection?
- 🔊A voice that I want to amplify: Freedom (a freestyle poem) by Megan Tee
