Do These Things Now With Your Writing Or Lose Your Relevance Overtime — The Gates Are Closing Too Fast

You can’t miss a single one of them

What gates are closing, and how fast are they closing?

There is always a way out, no matter what happens, but the gates of becoming one of the greats are closing fast. In fact, who knows if it’s already been shut down?

You can no longer become one of the greats. When I say one of the greats, I do not mean a regular writer or a well-known writer. But the gates to becoming unique and being heard by a million more than the internet can reach have almost been shut off, and in case you might want to ask, who shut them off, it’s you and I.

The sky is enough for everyone to fly, that is how we regular writers think.

But what of the folks who really want more, the supposed great writers at heart, who really want to be more than just article writers or regular E-book writers? Those who want their writing to do a lot more, on and off the internet, despite the enormous number of published words on a daily basis.

We do not stress about it enough, but those are the only folks whose writing will ever be relevant.

Did I hear you ask these questions?

• What if I turn up every day?
• What if I keep writing every time?

Well, you will also be relevant, but your relevance will not matter at that gate where the likes of William Shakespeare, Napoleon Hill, and Chimamanda Adichie are positioned.

You do not know. But most of the time, it’s because when you started, you didn’t ask yourself the one most important question.

Why do you write?

This is a very important question. It is one that you must continue asking yourself even after you have started writing. Also, it is so vital that you must apply it to every part of your writing journey.

Only if we must lie, but most of us started writing with little to no real deep thought about why we were writing.

• Some of us just jumped on the idea from our little charade with our journals.
• Some of us saw the industry as a new gold refinery.
• Some of us thought it would be nice to be known as a writer.
• Some of us only got inspired after reading too many books that our hearts can’t contain.

Whatever the case may be and whatever your reason may be for writing, at some point you would surely want to be relevant or stand the test of time in your writing journey.

If you truly want that relevance with your writing, or more, if you want to cross that gate like the greats, here are the boxes you must check.

FYI: I’m still checking these boxes too.

#1 Understanding the writing timeline

Is there even a thing as such?… Well, there is. Every human endeavor has its trajectory.

Just like in communications, where we have gone from landlines to cellular phones and now to smartphones.

So is writing too!

The timeline trajectory of the writing industry has gone from being one colored phase to becoming a multi-colored phase with tiny bits.

Now the only way to shine your light is to become unique with everything you do.

If you quietly do your research, you will see that the present timeline we are in now is the timeline of;

• More urge but less concentration from the readers:

Most people who read our writing now are less concerned. Don’t get me wrong.

I’m not referring to the genuine co-writers who support your body of work by reading in return for a read from you.

I’m referring to the sparse number of actual readers who surf the web and just come across your work. They always have a rush of anticipation when they stumble on your article, but they have no chill once they open your story to read.

It’s straight up to the exact information they need, and boom they click out.

• More hate but less ego from all writers:

It’s funny how this is occurring between writers. I do not know why.

I have seen some of my writer friends here on Medium that have gotten into indirect brawls with other writers, and I wonder why it’s happening now, right? It’s just the timeline we are in.

Writers now have more hate for one another, but personally, they all have less ego. They prefer to push out their anger through writing.

Writer hate is now becoming a niche. Some writers would sit down with all the creativity they have instilled in them and pen down an awful body of work about another writer.

That’s the time we’re in now.

• More reach but less impact from our pens:

This is another timely effect that hauls our writing, but we have failed to recognize it. Just because you have a hundred less than ten thousand views doesn’t mean you have an impact on anyone.

You may have only just been winning with a headline formula. Most of us now produce articles, E-books, and papers with more reach but less impact.

It’s just like a man with fame and money, but without an impact. He will not be relevant over time.

These are the times we are in now, and the only way to work over them to become relevant or enter the fast closing gate of the greats in writing is to;

• Use all possible formulas and intense writing guides to not only attract readers but also keep them reading your articles until the end.
• Stop creating unnecessary hate for other writers, and instead, learn from their expertise and infuse their mastery into yours if you are so much disturbed by their success.
• Ultimately admit the thought of not just creating a viral write-up, but also an impactful one that will pass an important message to its readers.

#2 Measuring how long your words will last

With all inclusions, this looks and feels vague. But if you want to be relevant, you must know the particular metric for relevance.

Although many factors could determine if your words will stand the test of time, they all evolve on the inclusion of two things.

• Plagiarism:

Don’t expect your words to last longer than the original writer if you have copied them.

That is one thing the karma of relevance wouldn’t allow you, because the internet keeps track of time. You wouldn’t get more credits than the initial publisher.

So instead, create your own words and uniquely pass your message. That is one sure ticket to being relevant, especially in your space.

• Search engine optimization:

No matter how much of a master of unique words you are, like I think I am, you must still consider the effects of SEO.

Understanding and utilizing the power of SEO will help your articles stay relevant over a very long period.

Although, you have to be very careful so as not to abuse the power of SEO and then go against plagiarism when you are sourcing for important keywords that have already been used by other writers.

#3 Pass the message and not the words

I would always praise the likes of Tim Denning and Kristina God, here on Medium for being overly blunt and direct with their articles.

Now, that is a direct example of having a message.

If I am asked to name one writer in this present time who is as sharp as a sword with his words, I would immediately name my friend Jeofrey Ogire. And if I am asked to mention a writer whose articles are based on deep-rooted research with real-time messages, I will cite my friend’s name: Boateng Sekyere.

It is very intuitive for every writer to perfect their writing skills and create articles with good word structure, but you should also be very keen on the message you are conveying.

#4 Slam it on their faces through embedded links

The first time I noticed the use of embedded links, I was reading an article by the ever-consistent Mike Lewis. I could see that he had somehow inputted and slammed the title and link of one of his old articles into the new one.

I wasn’t so sure about what it was, or how to do it, until I saw another article from another writer that explained how to go about it.

It turns out it was there all along.

The use of embedding links is a good way to make yourself relevant, although it shouldn’t be used all the time as your readers might get tired of it. Or your articles will be somewhat predictable.

But using such web advantages will surely make you more relevant than normal. Plus, it can also help your older essays keep blossoming.

#5 Turn them into a longer form, such as E-books

For writers like me who have only been relevant here on Medium, you should already know by now that your articles or write-ups can only get as far as the website can go.

If you already have so much of a stance here on Medium, then it is time you start to rebuild your articles into long-form write-ups such as E-books.

I know it might sound like a lot for a writer who has only been publishing regular articles or worse short-form articles for a while. But if you desire to be relevant or you wish to be recognized by even folks who have no access to the internet. Then, you must turn your articles and flimsiest ideas into books. No matter how short.

Lastly, thank you so much for reading my article today. I am super grateful you did. I would be publishing another one very soon.

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