avatarMisbah Ul Haq Syed

Summary

The article outlines strategies for aspiring writers to improve their craft and potentially join the top 5% of earners on Medium, emphasizing the importance of compelling titles, structured content, and clear writing.

Abstract

The "100 Days Writing Challenge" article discusses the reality that 95% of Medium writers earn $100 or less per month, setting the stage for the elite group of top earners that writers strive to join. It suggests that success in writing is not formulaic but rather a result of persistence, adaptability, and adherence to best practices. The article advises writers to craft attention-grabbing titles, as they are crucial for story engagement, and uses the example of "A lemon cake to die for" as a benchmark for excellence. It also emphasizes the importance of a well-structured narrative, akin to an effective CV layout, which includes careful consideration of font choice, formatting, sentence structure, and paragraphing. Clarity in writing is highlighted as essential, ensuring that the message is conveyed without confusion, and the article recommends obtaining feedback or revisiting one's work after some time to ensure its quality before publishing.

Opinions

  • The article opines that writing success on Medium is not guaranteed by any set of rules and that the effectiveness of shared tips and tricks can vary among writers.
  • It suggests that each writer's path to success is unique, akin to the uniqueness of fingerprints, and encourages writers to persevere until they find their own voice and create a distinct destiny in the writing world.
  • The importance of a compelling title is strongly emphasized, with the belief that it can significantly influence a story's appeal and reach.
  • The article conveys that the structure of written content is as important as its substance, advocating for a visually pleasing and reader-friendly layout that guides the reader's attention to key points.
  • It posits that clarity in writing is non-negotiable and that obtaining external feedback or self-reviewing after a break can be valuable in achieving this clarity.

100 DAYS WRITING CHALLENGE

Can You Make It To The Top 5%

Do you have the guts to break the ice — Episode 11

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

As per Medium’s official sources, 95% of writers on the platform earn $100 or less per month. That leaves us with the remaining top brass that we all aspire to become one day. But how? This the code to be cracked!

It is not rocket science. No given rules or path that guarantees success. Writers, whether new or experienced, share their tips and tricks that may or may not work for you. In reality, these are the best practices. Getting results and to which level depends on so many factors. Factors also keep changing. Continue trying until you master the trade and make your own mark. Remember, no two fingerprints are ever identical. Everyone creates a new destiny. Make yours worth it!

Here is a list of items to follow in your next story:

Title

Spend time and effort on creating the titles wisely. It essentially makes or breaks your story even before someone reads it. Many writers complete the story and then think of a suitable title for the same. In fact, it should be the other way round. Once I saw a title on Pinterest “A lemon cake to die for”. Ever since it has stuck in my head as the best in class. This is the level of excellence that you should aim for.

Focus on the below-mentioned areas:

  • Kicker
  • Main title
  • Subtitle

Structure

Make your text look pleasing to the readers. Help them get the important content with ease. Structure it in such a way that the story looks soothing to the eyes. Follow the same concept when designing your CV. Lead recruiters to find valuable information. Make sure they don’t miss it.

Here are some key points:

  • Font
  • Usage of formatting options
  • Sentence structures
  • Paragraphing

Clarity

Your writing should be crisp. There should be no hiccups. Readers should be able to understand your message loud and clear. Let someone read it and give you an honest opinion of the same. Another way is to read your story after a gap of a few days of completing it. If you are pleased with it, then publish it.

I hope you enjoyed today’s episode. See you tomorrow!

Illumination
100DayChallenge
Writing
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