Summary

A writer on Medium describes their successful strategy of repurposing underappreciated ideas from lesser-performing articles to create engaging content that earns them significant recognition and income.

Abstract

The author details their lucrative online writing career on Medium, where they enjoy a substantial following, high engagement, and a comfortable lifestyle. Despite occasional creative blocks and laziness, they maintain their income by finding and improving upon neglected ideas from poorly presented articles by other writers. Drawing inspiration from Austin Kleon's "Steal like an Artist," they transform these ideas into well-crafted stories with compelling headlines and vivid imagery, earning them widespread applause. The author admits to feeling slightly guilty about not crediting the original sources but justifies their actions by the value they add to the ideas. They conclude by emphasizing the benefits of joining Medium, inviting readers to read, write, and earn.

Opinions

The author believes in the importance of presentation and storytelling to make ideas successful.
They express a sense of superiority in their ability to recognize and capitalize on the potential of others' neglected work.
The author acknowledges a moral dilemma in repackaging others' ideas without credit but rationalizes it as a form of creative transformation.
They suggest that even mediocre content can be turned into a success with the right approach to writing and marketing.
The author implies that writing on Medium can be a profitable venture, encouraging others to join the platform.
There is an underlying

How I Stole the Idea from an Underling

… this is how I make a killing on Medium

My life on the “net” is a great success!

Earnings are pouring in from all corners of the online world.

Life is about putting up my legs for work. On a warm sunny autumn day, I sit high up in the alpine mountains of Austria. I am working with the notebook on my knees, having a nice foamy wheat beer on my side. The blasting view towards the snow capped distant mountains is like balsam for my mind.

I am just about to write another story on my Medium Blog. My articles are doing very well. I enjoy a lot of followers, I get plenty of applause and reader-engagement is growing by the day. The reading time for my articles is beyond my expectations and lets me live my life in style.

Sometimes I am running out of ideas and I am a bit lazy to churn out another well-crafted article. Not every day I have the energy to research a new topic in all its depth. But definitely, I need an income to pay for my meal in the lovely Austrian mountain hut.

On such days I have my awful way of doing things.

By the way, did you read the book “Steal like an Artist” by Austin Kleon?

Read this book, it will change your sense and approach to being creative forever.

Book Cover – “Steal like an Artist” by Austin Kleon

So what do I do?

I am taking Kleon’s advice for granted.

I am browsing through the articles of my fellow Medium writers . Here and there I spot a poorly written piece of text, struggling to even catch one single reader’s eyes.

But too often I can find amazing ideas behind those badly packaged articles. I pity their authors. Storytelling and marketing seem to be not their foremost strength.

Their headlines are too pale and do not attract at all. The opening phrases are as lame as a duck and just good enough to engage a snail. It takes them ages till they come to the point they want to make. Their messages do not come easily across. Poor spelling and grammar does take its toll, if they want or not. Yet the intentions and ideas of the articles are quite often still very interesting.

Those articles are my hidden treasures. I snap them up, refurbish and repackage them to make them fit my proven and successful style.

My brilliant headline will pull the readers over. By the first few phrases the reader will be hypnotized and will without much resistance immerse into “my” refurbished story. I plant pictures so attractive that my readers can not resist. My core message is exposed and crystal clear.

No wonder I get claps and responses till the platform bursts.

I feel a bit bad, I have stolen an idea of a fellow writer. I morphed it, so that it can not be recognized anymore at all.

I get the claps and bravos on behalf of others.

Can I be proud?

Well, I am doing fine.

I just want to assure you that this was merely fiction and for reflection, eventually for some learning only. My written words hardly earn me any penny and I would never steal a cent.

It is time to join Medium.

You wont regret.

Read, Write and Earn.