Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Write Like Everyone Else on Medium
Being yourself instead of being like everyone else
I’m no expert.
I’ve only been writing and slinging my work on this platform for less than a year. But there are two things I’ve noticed that concern me:
- Writers are trying to copy what they think is working for other writers here
- Writers on here are losing their uniqueness as a result
I’m going to go into these two points below and why I think writers on here who fall into these patterns are better off sticking to their guns and writing interesting and unique pieces.
Here we go…
You’re losing your voice
This is something you only ever hear about from singers. But for writers, it can be a big problem too. Just in a different way, and I would argue, in a more damaging one.
When writers lose their voice, it's usually because they want to follow the crowd.
Because to have your own voice means to go against the crowd, to go against the grain.
I’m not saying everyone here needs to be a counterculture contrarian hipster. You don’t need to write the opposite or different from everyone else just because you don’t want to follow the norms. That’s just as self-serving as writing like everyone else — a meta-movement for the sake of being a meta-movement.
All I’m saying is to hold onto what makes you you.
I get it, believe me. I’ve written articles like “How to Change Your Life for the Better” that don’t get much traction and usually after the first few days start hemorrhaging eyeballs on them.
So it’s tempting — tempting to fall in line with everyone else who seems to be having more success. To write exactly how they write. To take notes of what works and what doesn’t to a “t”, write up an article, and then make sure it checks all of the boxes against other writers’ work on here and what seems to work the most.
And it might work at first; but when you lose your voice, people can’t see the tree from the forest.
You get lost in the crowd. Then you’re hard to be found…
The squeaky wheel gets the oil
“The squeaky wheel gets the oil” is usually a demeaning phrase — a slap to the face.
But not for writers.
Think of all of your favorite writers that took off and became successful. Let’s just look at one: Hunter S. Thompson. Do you remember him starting out by copying what other writers were doing?
Yes…but with some caveats.
Hunter S. Thompson would type out “The Great Gatsby” and “A Farewell to Arms” word for word on his typewriter. But he did it as a writing exercise. To get into the flow, to learn writing styles.
As a way to practice and find your voice, it’s OK to take lessons from the greats and to see what works and what doesn’t. It’s OK to be inspired by them.
But like a bird, you have to learn how to take flight and leave the nest at some point. You have to be you — on Medium and in all of your writing endeavors.
It’s alluring, I know; to change your spots, stripes, and plumage to fit and fall in with the rest of the flock. Most people want their work to stand out, but ironically, a lot of writers on here end up doing the opposite.
You see all these other writers garnering claps, hand over fist. Meanwhile, you’re in your little corner plugging away at something that no one might ever see. And you know deep down that all you have to do is tweak some sentences here and there, change the topic, modify and “autotune” you a little and you too could join the other popular and successful writers on this platform.
But I would argue that it’s not worth it in the long run…
Stick out like a sore thumb
Life is hard, and writing makes it harder.
It always seems to be an uphill battle and a neverending struggle. If you go against the grain, you know you’re only making it harder on yourself. Do you really need or want that?
Again, in the long run, I would say “YES”.
You have two options:
- Write like everyone else
OR
- Write what you like and how you like it
The first option is easier, no question. The possibility of finding success and making it take off right off the bat. Do what is tried and true — the well-worn path — following in the footsteps of everyone else.
The second option is the grind. It’s off the beaten path, hacking your way through the underbrush — no end in sight to your hard endeavor.
BUT the second is more rewarding. Sure it takes longer. And you’re not sure when and how long it will take to reap the rewards. In the end, it comes back to another adage:
“No risk, no reward.”
The rewards you reap are always greater with the amount of risk you take. And writing articles in your own, unique voice is most definitely a greater risk. It will take longer to gain followers, the views will be down the toilet for long stretches, and the reads will be hit or miss.
You’ll be master and commander of your little world for the time being. But the chances of success become greater. No one you respect and no one lauded and admired became that way by blending in.
They stuck out, like a sore thumb.
That’s what you want.
Food for thought
Ask yourself this: would you like to put your unique stamp on Medium OR become a slave to the ebbs and flows of everyone else’s writing and what’s trendy on the platform?
Me? I like my writing, I like my voice, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to read this article. I spend a lot of time crafting each one to make sure people like you get the most out of it. If you want to read more about how to change your life and change your mind, then you can check it out here.
Cheers!