avatarDr. Tracy Davis

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Abstract

  </div><figure id="9e44"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*x1LAJV3M_cbC1VR2ru033A.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h1 id="aac9">So without further ado, here are my five pet peeves:</h1><h2 id="abea">1. Writing in one-sentence paragraphs</h2><p id="e58e">So, I do write in one-sentence paragraphs throughout my articles. But, not the whole way through. I know for readability it’s nice to break it up and not have super long paragraphs.</p><p id="0d84">I don’t know why it annoys me so much to only read one sentence at a time. There is probably some marketing or customer design reason that writers do this.</p><h2 id="7cef">2. Clickbait titles (Is this one or does the content match the headline?)</h2><p id="f218">I get it. We’re supposed to write headlines that bring people in. It’s definitely something I need to work on because I have so many articles on here that literally <b>NO ONE</b> has ever read. And I happen to think those articles are pretty interesting. But how would you know? You’re not clicking on them. So while I don’t enjoy clickbait titles, it is an area of improvement for my writing journey.</p><h2 id="925b">3. Over-promising and under-delivering</h2><p id="cef6">I guess this goes hand in hand with the clickbait title. If you’re going to promise me a <b>SUREFIRE WAY TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS THIS MONTH</b>, then there better be some great advice or steps for me to follow. I’m gullible. I believe you. And then I get sad because I was really hoping to become a millionaire this month.</p><h2 id="73df">4. Having a color background on your stories</h2><p id="18bc">Now, this is probably more of a personal preference. However, I have a very difficult time focusing on the article when the background is another color besides white with black text. I apologize in advance if I get to your story and end up having to click away for this reason. You do you. I’m probably missing out on some really great work because of this preference.</p><h2 id="2e0e">5. Not crediting people</h2><p id="3a62"><b>PLEASE</b> if you see me post something and not credit the original idea, put it in the comments. I think it’s human nature to read a lot and not always remember where we got an idea from. And I think someone said that we are all repackaging lots of the same information in different ways, and that

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’s okay.</p><p id="8538">But for ideas that are almost exact or an inspired hack or series, I think it’s nice to credit each other. So for now, I’m going to presume coincidence or genuine forgetfulness if I see it. However, I’m trying to make a better effort to save articles that I want to reference in future posts. For example, I made this Canva divider inspired by <a href="undefined">emma jade</a>’s <a href="https://readmedium.com/turn-your-medium-blog-into-a-design-masterpiece-7febcdc80206">great article</a>.</p><figure id="0e7d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*x1LAJV3M_cbC1VR2ru033A.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><h2 id="7d79">What are your Medium pet peeves? Perhaps it may inspire me to make some changes in my own writing!</h2><p id="e49b">I just created an account with <b>Substack</b> to start a newsletter. <a href="https://tracydeetips.substack.com/p/coming-soon?utm_source=%2Fprofile%2F92906408-tracy-davis&amp;utm_medium=reader2&amp;s=w">Subscribe here if you’d like to join in the fun!</a></p><div id="6595" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/subscribe/@tracydeetips"> <div> <div> <h2>Get an email whenever Dr. Tracy Davis publishes.</h2> <div><h3>Get an email whenever Dr. Tracy Davis publishes. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don’t already…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*qYFaZlS6bZPyzTBf)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="caba" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@tracydeetips/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link — Dr. Tracy Davis</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Pqm7W4jPTUr1GTpV)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

5 Medium Writing Pet Peeves — Click With Caution

It might involve you…

Photo by Julien L on Unsplash

Let me start by saying this post is in absolutely no way geared toward a specific person. These are observations I have from reading MANY articles from MANY different people. Feel free to agree or disagree. In fact, the comments will help ME become a better writer and community member on this platform.

I may even be guilty of one of your pet peeves — writing about my earnings on Medium, anyone? But, I’m not going to stop doing that because people find it interesting. I like reading about other people’s earnings because it inspires and lights a fire in me to keep going. And here is my shameless self-promotion:

So without further ado, here are my five pet peeves:

1. Writing in one-sentence paragraphs

So, I do write in one-sentence paragraphs throughout my articles. But, not the whole way through. I know for readability it’s nice to break it up and not have super long paragraphs.

I don’t know why it annoys me so much to only read one sentence at a time. There is probably some marketing or customer design reason that writers do this.

2. Clickbait titles (Is this one or does the content match the headline?)

I get it. We’re supposed to write headlines that bring people in. It’s definitely something I need to work on because I have so many articles on here that literally NO ONE has ever read. And I happen to think those articles are pretty interesting. But how would you know? You’re not clicking on them. So while I don’t enjoy clickbait titles, it is an area of improvement for my writing journey.

3. Over-promising and under-delivering

I guess this goes hand in hand with the clickbait title. If you’re going to promise me a SUREFIRE WAY TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS THIS MONTH, then there better be some great advice or steps for me to follow. I’m gullible. I believe you. And then I get sad because I was really hoping to become a millionaire this month.

4. Having a color background on your stories

Now, this is probably more of a personal preference. However, I have a very difficult time focusing on the article when the background is another color besides white with black text. I apologize in advance if I get to your story and end up having to click away for this reason. You do you. I’m probably missing out on some really great work because of this preference.

5. Not crediting people

PLEASE if you see me post something and not credit the original idea, put it in the comments. I think it’s human nature to read a lot and not always remember where we got an idea from. And I think someone said that we are all repackaging lots of the same information in different ways, and that’s okay.

But for ideas that are almost exact or an inspired hack or series, I think it’s nice to credit each other. So for now, I’m going to presume coincidence or genuine forgetfulness if I see it. However, I’m trying to make a better effort to save articles that I want to reference in future posts. For example, I made this Canva divider inspired by emma jade’s great article.

What are your Medium pet peeves? Perhaps it may inspire me to make some changes in my own writing!

I just created an account with Substack to start a newsletter. Subscribe here if you’d like to join in the fun!

Medium
Writer
Writing
Writing Tips
Clickbait
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