Do These Things Before Publishing Your First 3 Articles

The writing process is not just about writing — do these things to ensure you start the process right

There are thousands of writers on this platform, all looking to get our articles published so we can start earning. But with the number of people all looking for this attention, it is crucial you take a different approach.

To find success on a large platform, do something different that will make you stand out from the crowd.

When I first joined Medium in early February, I asked this question and I saw other writers ask the same question:

Hello, I just joined Medium. What is the first thing to do?

The response was always:

Write. Just start writing or someone will reply with a picture of a pen and paper.

The answer was always to write. Because my job as a writer is to write. So I wrote and I wrote. After a while, having done a lot of writing and doing as everybody was doing — writing without any clear goals — I realized this is harder than I thought. It's not all about writing.

That's when I figured out the answer to my question. And I will share them with you, so you start your writing journey better than I did.

Here are the answers I found for myself. If I had known this when I started, the experience wouldn't have been so tricky.

1. Read Articles by Top Writers

This is the first thing I would have done. Why make mistakes when someone else has already made them so you don’t have to?

Writing and reading go hand in hand. There’s not one without the other. Reading is an important part of your writing career. Know how the best writers write and how the not so good writers write. Study the good and the bad.

Reading work by top writers would have spared me a lot of trouble. I would have learned the proper way of doing things.

As a new writer, it is through reading you find the knowledge you need and didn't even know you need.

I’d read articles written by the best writers on the platform. I’d study their work inside and out. I’d observe their voice and tone they use in their articles.

I’d study their headlines to find a pattern. Are they bold? Are they educating the public or are they simply expressing themselves? I’d notice all those things. How they format their work. How they use their images. How short are their paragraphs? Do they write as they talk? I’d observe everything.

I would also read articles that aren't doing well, to figure out all the things that were done wrong — so I never repeat them.

2. Find a Publication That Welcomes You

Getting rejected as a new writer is not a good feeling and if you are not mentally strong, it can really bring you down. Most big publications won’t publish your very first article because you still need to improve your writing skills, and that's understandable.

Every new writer should look into writing for ILLUMINATION. Their reach is awesome and they open their doors to new writers. They illuminate everyone that comes through its doors. You can get your new work published there, you will build a following quickly and they welcome you there which is good for the new writer's ego. They help everyone find their voice.

You can also find a different one that will publish your first articles. Once you've found your first publication, you can begin brainstorming ideas to start writing after observing the best writers and getting accepted into illumination or whichever publication you choose.

3. Join a Facebook Group for Marketing

I wrote an article about how Facebook groups can be very toxic for new writers, but I also know the benefits of being in a group of like-minded individuals. I know the importance of promoting my work, which is also an essential part of your writing journey.

If I could answer myself, I’d tell myself to read each group's rules and don’t fall into the toxic trap. We’ve all done it, but everybody grows up after a while.

Facebook groups are necessary because they are full of writers, and writers are also the readers who will read and support your work. It’s also where you go if you have questions. People are always willing to help there.

Follow the group's rules, read the entirety of a post before commenting on anything, and support others too. Don’t forget to make genuine connections because writing can be isolating sometimes and you need friends to hold you accountable. Your writer friends end up becoming your biggest fans.

I created a Facebook group that is mainly focused on networking and meeting other writers in your area. Join here.

4. Look Into Publications That Challenge You

By now you are illuminated at illumination or whichever publication you chose and you have your feet in the ground. It’s time to spread your wings.

Start paying attention to other big publications. Look at the publication your favorite articles are published in and research them. Read everything they have published, read work written by the owner and editors.

Do this to learn the voice of the publication and also to see examples of the articles they publish. This will increase your chances of getting accepted into them.

Your work has to be in alignment with the publication to get accepted. That’s the trick to getting accepted. Match their tone. Learn their headlines. Their formatting style. Pay attention to their paragraphs. Are their articles straight to the point or are they into storytelling?

Know what an editor's job is, so you are not too surprised when your editor edits your work after getting accepted. If you read the work of top writers, you won't often have this issue.

Final Thoughts

If I had known these things sooner, I could have avoided all the frustration and burnout I experienced when I first started.

To stand out in a crowd, do something different, and try a new approach to doing things.

I’d also tell myself to get the Grammarly, Headline analyzer, and the TitleCase apps early to assist me with my writing.

As a new writer, it is so easy to worry about stats, curation, and claps. Claps don't mean a thing. If you start right, these things will come easily to you because you are in alignment with them.

Write on medium because you think writing is fun. If you follow the crowd, you will burnout, you will be disappointed and you might quit. You can’t quit writing if you are called to write.

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