Writing

My 5 Favourite Writers On Medium

And to revisit some of their old but gold articles.

I have been on Medium for almost 6 years. I have read hundreds (and probably thousands) of articles about self-improvement and writing online. When I think about my favourite writers, the first thing that comes to my mind is their writing, but not their big names. I found this surprising at first, but after a second thought, I figured this was completely normal.

The greatness of a writer does not lie in their fame but in the profound impact their words can have on thousands of people.

So, here are my top 5 favourite writers and their popular articles:

Disclaimer: I won’t go into the numbers as focusing on things like followers or views solely will wash out the importance of qualitative aspects. Also, please note that the writers are just my personal favourite and the content provided is not intended as a promotion.

1. Niklas Göke

Niklas Göke is a German writer who resides in a small studio apartment right in the heart of beautiful Munich. He has been writing almost every day since 2014. Now, he runs a daily blog where you can find the archive of his creative short stories.

One of my favourite articles dates back to 2019. Its title is “You are not lazy, bored, or unmotivated”. The subtitle was written as follows — And the cure for what really ails you can be found in an advertising slogan you’ve heard before. Intriguing, right?

And he didn’t disappoint us. In the introduction, he gave us a full picture of what the whole article is about, with an irresistible hook that pulls you in like gravity. He first questioned our beliefs with support from personal relatable stories and experts’ insights. Then, he concluded that what it all came down to is our fear, with a metaphor that allows you to visualize. Afterwards, he suggested we ‘Just do it’ as a strategy and tactic to push forward ourselves.

This article made me contemplate and think about all the excuses I had for myself. It turns out the reason why I felt stuck is that I am scared, scared of failure. What the author didn’t show is the 90% of the mess he had written, and here is the 10% that worked for him. He relentlessly focuses on the ‘next’ and refuses to let everyday hurdles get to him. There’s an idea that is ingrained in my mind subconsciously after I read this article, and it really shifts my perspective when feeling defeated.

The faster you can re-centre after completing something or getting rattled, the better.

Here’s his article in full:

Here’s another article I like to revisit every year:

2. Nicolas Cole

Not to be confused with Niklas Göke, Nicolas Cole is the famous American writer who launched the Ship 30 for 30 programme dedicated to helping people start writing online. In 2023, he launched Premium Ghostwriting Academy to train ghostwriters on how to package & price their services to attract high-ticket clients. He also has a substack newsletter — ‘The Art & Business of Digital Writing’.

One of his articles in 2021 really helped me in writing. His endless idea generator (which I screenshot and put on my desktop) allows us to think fast and envision our writings. The powerful framework guides us to create a mental model for ourselves and enables us to connect ideas quickly.

The first step involves deciding a direction; whether it is actionable, analytical, aspirational or anthropological, you should have a clear idea of where you want to take your readers. The second step involves organizing your article. It can be a ‘How to’ article, a ‘Lessons learned’ article or any other type of article. Sticking to a structure makes it easier for your readers to follow your train of thought. The third step involves telling your readers why they should trust you. Either you are the expert or the one who curates advice from the experts. You may also share something from your personal experiences.

You may check out the full article here:

Here’s another listicle I really like:

3. Scott H. Young

One of the biggest achievements of Scott H. Young is he learnt MIT’s 4-year undergraduate computer science curriculum in 12 months without taking any classes. He is also a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and his blog explores themes ranging from productivity to learning to the meaning of life.

There’s this article that I was fascinated by. It covers 25 thinking tools based on the characteristics of different professions. Take an artist as an example, he argued that ‘often the best companies produce things that look like art.’ He then questioned how our work would change if we made creativity the first priority.

The article as a whole made me realise putting on different thinking hats may lead to solutions that were outside of your initial thoughts. Last but not least, one of the most mesmerizing things is that his articles include original illustrations of his own.

You can check out the full article here:

Here’s another article I really like with engaging illustrations:

4. Darius Foroux

Similar to Scott H. Young, Darius Foroux is also a writer who has his own illustrations across his article. He compiled a list on Medium called ‘The Stoic Letter’. The articles inside are usually a 2–5 minute read, and they are impressive because of his distinct perspective and thinking process. You can also find his other best articles on his own website.

In his article about fixed goals and flexible goals, he claims that setting flexible goals boost your happiness with his personal experience of living in Spain as an example. Towards the end, he even gave a counter-argument about the ‘S’ (be specific) in SMART goals. Make sure to check out why:

Here’s another article I really like:

5. Alex Mathers

If Darius Foroux’s articles are like refreshments for your mind, Alex Mather’s articles are like a doze of energy to you. I found out about Alex Mathers this year, and the rising star is my recent favourite. His down-to-earth writing is direct and powerful. He also owns a substack newsletter — ‘Untethered Man’ and ‘Mastery Den’.

His article with the title ‘I wrote 400 articles before anyone cared…’ acts as a force for me to write. His honest confession and straight-to-the-point tips really encouraged me when I wanted to procrastinate.

You can check out the full article here:

If you are a (new) writer, you should also read this:

Final Words

Since 2018, Medium has become part of my life. I won’t say Medium changed my life completely, but it did fuel my passion for writing and navigating me through some hard times.

What do these writers have in common? I am sure you can figure out some if you read about them and their articles. One thing I want to mention is that all of them are not merely writers; they are also coaches and entrepreneurs. They harness their writing skills to such an extent that they transcend proficiency, evolving into someone who influences the people of the Internet.

The impact of these writers usually extends beyond the immediate moment of reading. Their unique voices influence and shape our thoughts long after we have finished reading their articles. I am sure that there’s still a lot I have to learn from them.

Lukthru writes about her personal experiences in an attempt to understand the world bit by bit. Her genuine confessions will empower you to find your way to be the best version of yourself. Find out how to live your life to the fullest by subscribing to her free newsletter.