I’m Not Going to Tell You How to Write a Medium Article

But you’ll want to read this anyway

During my time on Medium as a rookie writer these last few weeks, I’ve learned more about the site than I could have ever dreamed.

One of the major aspects I’ve learned is how to make money. I’ve read all I could about the Medium Partner Program (who hasn’t?) and one lesson stuck out to me. It’s probably because it’s repeated all the time.

A way to make money on Medium is to…

Write an article on Medium about how to write an article on Medium.

Genius, right?

I’m not going to do that.

Why Would We All Write Alike?

If I were to write an article explaining how to write an article on Medium, then I would be sharing my methods and strategies of writing. That wouldn’t be such a bad thing, but I don’t really want you to write like me.

It’s not because my writing is any better than the next guy. It many ways, it’s nowhere near perfect. I don’t want you to write like me because you have your own writing voice to discover.

If everyone wrote the way I do or the way someone else does, then Medium would flood with the same voice over and over again. No one wants that.

So I’m not going to tell you how I write. You’re going to have to figure it out for yourself.

But that’s the beauty of writing. It’s not in the destination, but the journey.

You Need to Have Your Own Voice

The beauty of Medium is the fact that anyone can write whatever they want, whenever they want.

Sure, most everyone on here wants to make money on here, whether as a side hustle or a full-time job. But in order to do that, you need to discover your own voice.

Too often, rookie writers want to write like Medium veterans Tim Denning or Shaunta Grimes. That’s okay sometimes, but eventually, you’re going to have to learn to write like you.

You have your own writing voice for a reason. So why not use it?

Who knows, it’s probably a great voice just dying to speak, but you won’t let it because you’re trying to write like others. If you keep doing so, you’re only hurting yourself.

Medium readers want to read different voices and styles of writing. It’s just like everyone in the world wants to do something different all the time.

If you ate McDonalds’s every day, it would grow old after a while. But if you mix it in during a month with Applebee’s, Red Lobster, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-A or Subway along with home-cooked meals like a casserole, salad and whatever else you enjoy, then the month of eating is exciting.

The same goes for writing. We want to read in different voices for variety. We don’t want to read the same thing all the time.

To prevent this, just write in your own voice.

Closing Thoughts

Medium writers of all levels from experts to rookies are always on the hunt for writing advice, whatever helps them become a better writer.

That’s great and all, but don’t read the articles telling you how to write another article. You will learn by doing, by trial and error, and by reading how others write.

If you stay on that path and write the way you want and only you can, then your success on Medium is looking bright.

Happy writing!