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ardless of the subject, or the quality of writing.</p><p id="c6b1">The story I’m referring to is this one:</p><div id="df54" class="link-block"> <a href="https://jcosky.medium.com/diabetes-the-silent-killer-d6a073ce365d"> <div> <div> <h2>Diabetes — The Silent Killer</h2> <div><h3>Don’t let diabetes ruin your life…</h3></div> <div><p>jcosky.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Lm4ZPoM7qU81FB58)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="04a0">I agree; the title hasn’t been written in a clickbait-style, even though it is quite dramatic. This might have reduced some interaction.</p><p id="e916">It even includes a cute picture of a koala bear!</p><p id="ec85" type="7">A story needs to be short</p><p id="ff5a">However, this story is showing as an <b><i>8 minute read</i></b>; and to be totally honest with you, if it was me, I probably wouldn’t read it either!</p><p id="933f">A story needs to be short; something that can be consumed in a relatively small t

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imeframe. Five minutes here and there is fine. But almost 10 minutes is quite a lengthy amount of time to hold attention; regardless of how good it might be.</p><p id="cb49">I believe there is a secondary reason too.</p><p id="194e">The story above was self-published. I didn’t use a publication to present it and this, in my opinion, has also held it back; although maybe not in such a big way.</p><p id="47ac">There’s a lesson to be learned here.</p><p id="d19a">Keep stories short and sweet and promote it through a publication.</p><p id="9912">One thing I have noticed is that some Medium writers use multiple publications, depending on the subject; and I’m going to investigate this further, for my ramblings.</p><p id="c1ec">Does any of this resonate with you? Am I right, of have I missed the point completely?</p><p id="e052">Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this, please hit those clapping hands below many times 👏🏻</p><p id="a00e">It means a lot to me and it will help other people see the story.</p><p id="73c6"><i>P.S.: Before you go, if you’d like to receive my articles direct into your inbox, then just <a href="http://jcosky.medium.com/subscribe">click here</a>!</i></p></article></body>

I Wrote a Story and it Sucked

Thoughts about why a story failed to attract

Not too long ago I published a story (it was quite personal) and it didn’t do well at all in attracting views or readers. Not even a single clap.

Now, I’m not looking for any sympathy (OK, maybe a little!) but I was interested to know why.

What was it that caused this small ‘blip’?

Medium is a place for long-form and short-form stories. Or Article, or Post; call them what you will.

However, having done a little bit of research, it seems that there is an optimal length for a story.

It seems that the average read time shouldn’t be more than about 5 minutes.

Anything longer than that and it’s unlikely to be looked at, regardless of the subject, or the quality of writing.

The story I’m referring to is this one:

Diabetes — The Silent Killer

Don’t let diabetes ruin your life…

jcosky.medium.com

I agree; the title hasn’t been written in a clickbait-style, even though it is quite dramatic. This might have reduced some interaction.

It even includes a cute picture of a koala bear!

A story needs to be short

However, this story is showing as an 8 minute read; and to be totally honest with you, if it was me, I probably wouldn’t read it either!

A story needs to be short; something that can be consumed in a relatively small timeframe. Five minutes here and there is fine. But almost 10 minutes is quite a lengthy amount of time to hold attention; regardless of how good it might be.

I believe there is a secondary reason too.

The story above was self-published. I didn’t use a publication to present it and this, in my opinion, has also held it back; although maybe not in such a big way.

There’s a lesson to be learned here.

Keep stories short and sweet and promote it through a publication.

One thing I have noticed is that some Medium writers use multiple publications, depending on the subject; and I’m going to investigate this further, for my ramblings.

Does any of this resonate with you? Am I right, of have I missed the point completely?

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this, please hit those clapping hands below many times 👏🏻

It means a lot to me and it will help other people see the story.

P.S.: Before you go, if you’d like to receive my articles direct into your inbox, then just click here!