A 4-Step Framework to Turn a Mediocre Article into an Engaging Masterpiece

“The dangerous man is the one with only one theory, because he’ll fight to the death for it”

There are 70 million writers on Medium.

You are one of those 1 in 70M aspiring writers trying to dent a mark on the vast landscape of the internet.

• THE UPSIDE: You have a multitude of ideas swirling around in your head, waiting to be unleashed upon the world.
• THE DOWNSIDE: You are not sure which ones will resonate with your readers and which ones will fall flat, demotivate you and transform into the sudden death of your online career.
• THE KEY TO SUCCESS: Quality content? Sure. Connecting and understanding your audience? Bulls-eye.

Fear not, my eager friend, because the Iteration Game is ON.

A Recipe

So, what does iteration mean for the wordsmiths?

Iteration is like the secret sauce that transforms mediocre articles into desired, effective, and engaging content.

It’s all about fine-tuning and refining your formula, over and over again, until it tastes better than Remy’s Ratatouille.

We’re talking about proving different approaches, styles, niches, and subjects, going through multiple versions of your writing until you reach the best version possible.

If you’re not iterating, you’re stagnating, and in this wacky world of writing, experimentation is a vital component.

Let’s take a look at how this works, from beginner to pro iterator.

Step #01: Throw spaghetti at the wall

This is the Macro Iteration phase.

Just like that old Italian nonna testing the pasta for doneness, you need to fling different approaches, styles, niches, and subjects into the writing arena.

Obsessed with Productivity Tips? Go for it!

Fascinated by the art of underwater basket weaving? Dive right in!

This is your chance to let your creative juices flow and see what sticks.

As the great philosopher Yoda once said,

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

This is the time to embrace chaos.

Your goal here is to see what resonates with your readers and what falls flat like a bad soufflé.

Step #02: The first dish served is not always the best

You’re writing an insightful piece about Productivity Tips.

The attributes you want your piece to have are: practical, easy to read, and with a personal twist.

To brainstorm, you start writing down all the tips you can think of — from the Pomodoro Technique to power naps. Some well-known, others distinctive and lesser-known.

Once you have a bunch of ideas, you’ll need to refine them.

You might focus on the five most effective tips. Then, you’ll flesh out each one with more information and specific examples.

Ready to post?

Hold on, cowboy!

Don’t hit that “Publish” button just yet.

It’s time to iterate like there’s no tomorrow.

- Intimate Iteration:

Give it a read-over. ALOUD.

You’ll definitely find some spots that could use a little tidying up:

• awkward or rambling phrasing
• lack of research
• hugly typos and grammatical errors

- Friendly Iteration:

Then, you share your draft with a trusted friend or fellow writer: Benny the Brutally Honest.

Benny reads your masterpiece and offers some feedback that kicks your ego, but hey, it’s all in the name of improvement.

He says, “Hey, buddy, your intro needs a bit more appeal. How about starting with a hook like this: bang!bang!bang! — you get it.

With that nugget of wisdom in mind, you revise your intro, infusing it with Benny’s suggestion.

- Social Iteration:

Post it on social media or reach out to your email list to see which tips people prefer.

From the feedback you receive, you might notice that some of your tips are not as relevant as you thought.

Step #03: Adding salt & pepper

Armed with the juiciest data, you sift through your article, seasoning it like a skilled chef. You add a pinch of wit here, a dash of eloquence there, and gently grill the sentences.

Scott Berkun says,

“Writing is the art of repeatedly failing until you succeed.”

By the time you’re done with revisions, you’ll have a polished post that closely matches the attributes you set for yourself.

If you didn’t follow this process, you might have ended up with a scattershot article with no clear focus — leaving your readers disengaged and uninterested.

Of course, it’s easier said than done.

It’s common for writers to love their own writing so much that they hesitate to change a word.

But it is mandatory to refine ideas and tighten up your writing.

Step #04: Time to refine the menu

Once you’ve unleashed your literary creations into the wild, it’s time to analyze the data like a Sherlock Holmes of the writing world.

Dig deep into those subjects and styles that struck a chord with your audience. Get to know them better than you know your favorite pair of sweatpants.

Pay close attention to those read counts, highlights, and comments. You know, that stat section you keep refreshing every second after you hit “publish.”

They’re like little breadcrumbs leading you to the treasure trove of reader preferences.

Maybe your article about your obsession with Productivity Tips skyrocketed in reads and garnered a flurry of comments asking for more inside tricks.

Or perhaps your deep dive into the riveting world of underwater basket weaving made waves and left readers thirsty for more waterlogged adventures.

So, armed with the insights of your adoring fans, you embark on follow-up articles, explore related topics, and immerse yourself in the nuances that captivated your readers’ hearts.

Your winner articles undergo a metamorphosis, emerging from their chrysalis as a literary butterfly ready to take flight.

A suggestion from Sean Kernan: The 70–20–10 Rules For Writing Content Online

70% of your content should be “status quo”: a bucket of things that provide a level of consistency that is needed for mass audiences and for your own quality control.

20% is where you push the boundaries: more unpredictable, blend of multiple categories, or with one key element warped.

10% is just ridiculous, far out in left field. Occasionally, gems may surface that otherwise remain buried in a “status quo” strategy.

This 70–20–10 rule of variety lifts the floor of your writing.

It pushes your creativity and stretches your brain while allowing you to sharpen your main skillset too.

The table is set

Diversifying options is only half the story; throwing most of the options in the garbage is the other half.

The stronger approach, Francis Crick suggests, is to have lots of ideas and let most of them die.

Think of it as a treasure hunt for the Holy Grail of writing success.

Continually interating and improving your work gets you closer to discovering your niche, your style, and, most important: your readers.

James Clear puts it like this:

“Every word you write is practice for the next word. Don’t be afraid to practice.”

Writing isn’t a one-and-done process.

It’s a rollercoaster ride, but it’s also a thrilling adventure that’ll lead you to your writing sweet spot and ensure you never settle for mediocrity.