Editor’s Picks— Top 10: When Everybody Will Die, I’ll Be the Best Writer in the World

Let’s have a peek at our top 10 stories today

When Roberto Silva created a partner program account on Medium, he was super excited. The other night he had dreamt of being a famous blogger. Roberto lived in the favela, or the slums, outside São Paulo. Then he started writing his stories. But he failed to create an impact. And then he had another dream, one in which he was telling himself, “When everybody will die, I’ll be the best writer in the world.”

But this second dream is rather shocking. If everybody dies, there’ll be no readers in that dystopian future. Will Roberto Silva think about writing when he is sure that nobody is alive to read his work?

Roberto is noticing only his side of the story. His wish to be a great blogger is okay. But for his dream about everybody dying, he needs a shrink.

Instead of waiting for the unlikely tragedy or wishing bad for all the writers, he could focus on telling his story in a more engaging way.

Maybe, the readers don’t want to read about the problems of his life. He could switch to telling stories about what makes life worthwhile while living in the slums outside São Paulo.

Readers would definitely like to read about his hopes and aspirations. They may like to know how much he loves his mother or father or his siblings. They may want to know how he lightens up in the moments of despair when he feels life would crush him.

Writing is hard, and writing well is work. Even if you share your problems in complete detail, people may not like to read it. Most of the people want to read uplifting and encouraging stories. Stories that talk about solutions and tell people how to find true love. Or how to earn a lot of money on the weekend. Or how to work for 4 hours in a week and make millions. Or how to exercise for 4 hours in a week and live a healthy life.

The trick that can help Roberto Silva is this: find a solution to your problem. Then share that solution — and use his predicament to connect with the reader on an emotional level.

Imagine a story heading that goes like this: ‘How I conquered my fear of facing my ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend,’ or ‘How I overcame my financial problems while living in the slums outside São Paulo.’ Notice how the readers are attracted to stories where people solve a life problem and then boast about it. Or consider this: “How I quadrupled my Medium earnings in 15 days.”

We are suckers for good stories. We love happy endings. Our spirits soar high when we see someone facing a problem, doing something about it, and then defeating the impossible challenges.

If I told you the story of a boy who worked for sixteen hours a day and could not pay his bills, you would not like to read it. But if I said he became a millionaire, you’d love to know how he did it.

That is why we want to read a story that tells us a problem and then tells us a solution. Something that we can implement in our lives and live better lives.

In the end, I would instruct Roberto to learn to write well before becoming a famous blogger.

Here is a list of our top 10 stories today — by writers who know the art of writing well:

10. What To Do When It Feels like You have Run Out of Writing Ideas

Yewande Adeleke is a lawyer, academic researcher, and a great writer. Her writing style is simple, elegant, and very engaging. If you decide to read this, you’ll never run out of new ideas. I am bookmarking this one.

While some writers can write just about anything that comes to mind, others have to think really hard before they can have ideas on what to write.

For me, it’s a bit of both. There are days when the ink flows non-stop. On other days, I do never-ending research and deep-thinking before making a choice on what to write.

9. 5 Word Motivation Delivered in 3 Minutes

I wrote this one.

If Gary Vaynerchuk says it bluntly, listen to him because most of us want to know the truth no matter how ugly it might be.

The most motivational five words that you must remember are: “You are going to die.”

Well, Gary is not the first one to say it.

8. How To Break Your Bad Habits

Morten Jensen is a Dane, married to a brit, living in NYC. He is a sober curious distance runner and globe trotter. He writes about running, nutrition, mental health, and more.

His writing style is formal, informative, and very engaging. I hope you’ll like this story.

We all have bad habits. Some worse than others. If we don’t know how to control or break them they can develop into addictions.

Addiction can be defined as “a compulsive, chronic, physiological, or psychological need for a habit forming substance, behaviour, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects…”

Most people tend to think about substances like alcohol and drugs when we talk about addiction. However, as defined above, addiction is much broader than just a physiological need for mentioned substances.

7. A Helpful Lesson to Win the Game of Life

Matt Reicher is a researcher, writer, and content creator trying to find his place within this world of words.

He is an accomplished writer. His writing style is honest, practical, wise, and very engaging. Do check his other work and don’t forget to follow him.

Many years ago, a school advisor I’d talked to no more than a couple of times gave me a powerful piece of simple wisdom. Had I put it into practice, it likely would’ve changed the course of my life.

If only I had actually listened.

While looking up at me from behind his desk, he said that life is designed to work one of two ways. You can either pay now and play later or play now and pay later. There is no third option.

6. I Wrote a Sex Scene as a Virgin. Here’s How it Went.

Olivia Petrisis a novelist, computer scientist, and cockapoo owner. When she is not on the computer, you will find her in the back of a bookshop that nobody’s heard of.

She is a good writer. Her writing style is honest, witty, and entertaining. Do check her other work. She is new to Medium and needs your love.

When I brushed the dust off of my first book last night, I always expected to cringe a bit. Very few first attempts at writing a novel are prize-worthy, but I figured I’d give my book a read through for nostalgia’s sake. Safe to say, I hardly expected to find one of the best scenes I’ve ever written tucked between its pages — and for it to be a sex scene.

5. What Meditation Can Do For Your Sex Life

Michael Papas is probing the mystery of mind at the intersection of mindfulness, philosophy, and psychedelics.

He is a fine writer. His writing style is honest, appealing, and very engaging. If you start reading this story, you’d not be easily clicking away before finishing it.

Meditating before making love can produce the best sex you’ve had in months.

I had an experience the other day.

Still new to meditation, I’m roaming the roads of what’s possible when you get out of your head and into the present. Recently, a road led to a sexual experience, unlike anything I’ve experienced. Ever.

4. Why “Nice Guys Finish Last” Might Just be So True

Victor Kananda is a self-improvement guru and a freelance writer. Seeking but not finding, but adding one thing to another to discover the schemes of things.

He is a superb writer. His writing style is simple, direct, and pleasant to read. You’ll love his work. He is new to Medium and needs your love.

I’m just as guilty as the next person.

I used to be a nice guy.

To be honest, I still am — but nowadays, I don’t really act like it to prove anything to anyone

I was the nicest guy you’ll ever come across. When a girl cancelled a date on me, I’d ask for another. When she took two days to reply to my texts, I’d still reply in a matter of seconds. And if she’d take three days before replying, I’d send another to remind her that I still existed.

3. 5 Ways to Tell if Someone Hates You and Why You Should Let Them

Ella Pearson is a thinker of thoughts, a dreamer of dreams, and a writer of words. Passionate about personal development and kindness. She is doing what she can to help and inspire others.

She is an outstanding writer. Her writing style is informative, logical, and very engaging. Don’t miss this one.

“You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression,” says psychology professor James Uleman, PhD. “In spite of the congeniality of many professional gatherings, judgments are being made, and impressions formed all the time.”

We have no control over what opinion first impressions create, and maybe that’s a reason why we think someone dislikes us without cause — perhaps they just got the wrong impression. Their body language, facial expression, greetings and looks can make us feel unwelcome and sometimes even despised.

2. How to Tell Whether She’s Open to Being Approached or Not

Shannon Hilson is a full-time writer and a language nerd. She is the girl with the most cake.

She is an outstanding writer. Her writing style is frank, to the point, and beyond engaging. If you started reading this story, you’d probably like to read it to the end.

Do check her other work. Read her. Follow her. Wait for her next piece.

I’ve had many guy friends complain to me over the years that figuring out what women want from them is next to impossible these days. This is especially the case when it comes to facilitating a meet-cute with someone attractive they stumble across out in the wild.

Do women still want men to talk to them, or do they strictly want to be left alone? It’s actually both, but it depends on the woman, as well as the circumstances. You’re probably pretty safe chatting someone up in a social setting where people are there to mix and mingle, like at a party or a night club. But what about everyday places like the grocery store, the gym, or the street — places where women aren’t necessarily looking to meet new people?

1. How Exercise Changes Your Brain and Your Mood

At number one, it is Maria Cross. She has a master’s degree in science and she is a registered nutritionist, nutrition science writer, specializing in diet and mental health.

She is an accomplished writer. Her writing style is frank, informative and absolutely engaging. She has written many viral stories. This may be one of them. Don’t miss this one.

You exercise to keep your muscles strong and your stamina high, along with your buff ratings. Perhaps you also exercise for your cardiovascular fitness. Now here’s further motivation to move that body: exercise changes your brain chemistry to promote better mood and memory.

Exercise works, and not just because of the buzz you get from having gone out and done something. Yes, exercise triggers the release of endorphins, chemicals that create a sense of euphoria. But there is much more to it than that.

This post is part of the Top 10 Series — you can meet 400+ top writers with these links:

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Final Thoughts

If your story was selected in the Top 10, please share another one of your stories with a brief introduction and a short convincing review — in the comments. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

I am inviting you to join our private Facebook group for Illumination writers. Also please follow my publication — positive minds.

If you find any mistake, typo, or other error, please leave a private note for correction. Thanks.

To be included as a top 10 writer, read these curation guidelines carefully.

You can read my curated stories here.

Disclaimer: The name of the character and other details are made up for this piece of fiction.