I Studied The Best Articles on Medium, So You Don’t Have to

With the right blend of personality, relatability and value, you can take on the writing world.

You keep adding more articles to that reading list of yours; maybe it’s about time you dissected it…

Around one year ago, I started blogging online. Armed with a plan of how I was going to achieve financial freedom, I set off into the creative world.

Needless to say, where I had planned to be in year one and where I ended up were worlds apart. But I have learnt a hell of a lot. And I’m still here to tell the tale. (You have to take all the wins you can).

Everything changed In March when I saw a Tweet showing someone’s earnings on Medium.

I’m not going to lie; it drew me in. Here was someone writing on an open platform and making a living from their articles.

I was hooked.

It sounded like every writer’s dream.

So, I took the plunge and started my Medium journey.

I’ve been writing on the platform for around four months. And although I’ve made it to the partner programme (another small win), my writing is a long way off.

So, I recently did what every new writer should do, and I spent some time going over my reading list.

I discovered that almost all the great articles followed a similar format. The best writers share strong similarities in the way they write their messages.

And it goes something like this:

Show personality.

What separates good writing from great writing is personality.

With the rise of AI, showing personality in your articles is what humanises your content. It’s what demonstrates to the reader that you don’t only talk the talk, but you walk the walk.

• Be relatable.
• Use examples.
• Don’t be afraid of humour.

Take this article for example. I talked a little about my early journey on Medium and included a little humour about small wins. You can make suggestions personal by talking about your experiences.

People want articles, not textbooks. And there’s a difference between telling the reader and showing them.

Personality lets you share your ideas in a personal way and creates a connection with the reader. Which all great writing aims to do.

Solve a problem.

Almost all the articles I highlight solve a problem.

Whether it’s ideas on how to write better or stories about starting online. The best articles take the route of problem and solution, and some even do it without you realising.

Readers want articles that make them think. Whether we like it or not, the internet is a competitive landscape, and we are all competing for attention.

Your title needs to draw people in by giving a glimpse of some answers to a problem they may be facing. The content of the article then needs to be positioned around your solutions and ideas.

Offer Value.

The best thing you can be online is valuable.

Forget about consistency; forget about doing 12 hours a day writing and engaging.

What you need to do is offer value and be helpful. That’s what’s going to get you noticed and appreciated.

• Think about problems that you have overcome.
• Structure your article around solutions that have helped.
• Format it in a way that is helpful to your reader.

This starts by sharing ideas that solve specific problems. It doesn’t have to be ground-breaking, and it can even be generic. But if it’s relatable and embeds your personal story, it will be well-received.

Because writing isn’t about the author; it’s about the reader. And that means the reader comes first.

There’s a practical application.

If you want to take problem-solving to the next level, you need to have some kind of application.

How can readers use what I’m saying?

Be specific about takeaway pieces of advice or ideas that people can use. The best advice isn’t only relatable, it’s applicable. People want to know how to implement your ideas so it can benefit them.

This isn’t selfish; it’s natural. We are all in the business of helping ourselves. The irony is that it comes when you start helping others.

I spent several years teaching and coaching in prison. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, helping others helped me solve my own problems.

My writing is no different. Even as I edit this article, I am embedding the lessons that are helping me improve.

That’s the beauty of sharing advice: you figure things out for yourself when you start helping others.

• Talk about your wins and losses.
• Share your biggest lessons.
• Give the reader something they can apply.

Because the best doesn’t only tell you, it shows you.

Show Vulnerability.

Vulnerability can be a tricky one. You want to show that you have life experience, but you don’t want to tell stories that might recreate an ordeal.

This should be on your own terms and at your own pace and not to increase your traffic. However, get the balance right, and it can be liberating.

My career in prison education taught me that we are all carrying a lot of unnecessary burdens. And no one is exempt. Whether an inmate, prison guard, or CEO, we all have the same problems.

No one is exempt from the struggles of life. It’s part of what makes life interesting. The highs can be so high, and the lows can feel like you’re never getting back up.

The problem is that, on the surface, these things aren’t discussed enough. There is a call for vulnerability like no other because you don’t see enough of it.

We are all crying out for stories that show that what we experience isn’t unique to us. This starts by being vulnerable and normalising things that make us feel less ‘normal’.

When I see stories on anxiety, it draws me in. I bottled up anxious feelings for most of my early adult life. When I read vulnerable stories that I can relate to, it teaches me that despite my fears, I’m never alone.

We are all human, and that means that emotions aren’t an opt-in and opt-out. Everyone gets a little anxious and sad. We all know loss, and we all suffer. The more this gets normalised, the lighter the burden becomes.

• Tell your stories to your readers.
• Don’t be afraid to sound vulnerable.
• Draw upon emotions people can relate to.

Someone somewhere is experiencing the same as you. Your fears, losses, and stories can help the right person overcome them.

But remember to test the water with one foot. You don’t have to tell the world your life. Tell them a little first and see how you feel.

Final Thoughts.

Great writing is about inspiring the reader. It’s about solving problems whilst showing personality and being relatable. More ‘I did’ and less ‘you should ‘.

This only gets easier the longer you stay in the game. The more you create, the more wins and losses and the more lessons you get to share.

Being helpful is not only a virtue; it’s a way of making positive differences in the lives of others.

Chat GPT.

Now that the AI hype has died off, we can get back to doing what humans do best. Sharing intimate stories, lessons, and advice on how to make progress in this game of life. Let's leave AI to below-average quotes.

Thanks for reading.

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