avatarElin Melaas

Summary

The web content provides guidance for new Medium writers on formatting their stories to enhance readability, emphasizing the importance of white space and the use of Medium's story editor features.

Abstract

The article titled "Learn To Format Your Story. I Don’t Read a Wall of Text" offers advice to new writers on Medium, stressing the significance of proper text formatting to engage readers. The author, Elin Melaas, insists that a well-structured layout with intentional use of white space can prevent information fatigue and encourage readers to continue past the first paragraph. Melaas recommends utilizing Medium's story editor to incorporate various formatting elements such as titles, subtitles, headers, subheaders, images, bold text, italics, links, quotes, and lists to create a visually appealing and easily digestible story. The article also includes a visual guide to the story editor toolbar and links to additional resources on formatting, as well as a call to action for readers to join Medium through the author's referral link.

Opinions

  • The author believes that the presentation of content is as important as the content itself, asserting that a story's format can determine whether it is read.
  • Melaas suggests that readers are more likely to engage with a story that is visually "delicate" and designed to facilitate an "effortless" reading experience.
  • The article conveys a strong opinion against overwhelming readers with a "wall of text," suggesting that such a practice leads to disengagement.
  • The author emphasizes the importance of making stories easy to read, implying that readability is a key factor in retaining reader interest.
  • Melaas encourages new writers to invest time in designing their text, indicating that this effort is crucial for the success of their writing on Medium.

Medium formatting

Learn To Format Your Story. I Don’t Read a Wall of Text

My tips for new Medium writers

Image courtesy of Elin Melaas.

Hello and welcome new Medium writers. I want to tell you this about writing stories on Medium: I don’t read a wall of text. No matter how good your story is, I will never read it if you overwhelm me.

My advice

Spend time formatting your story to make it as easy to read as possible.

Invite me into your text and make it delicate to look at. Design your layout in such a way that I’m floating effortlessly through your story. Don’t make me give up when I try to get through the first paragraph.

How To Format Your Story

White space

White space is the absence of content. Use it intentionally. Allow me to process your words. White space throughout your story could avoid giving your reader information fatigue.

Medium’s story editor

Use Medium's story editor to format your story. Create life to your text by using titles, subtitles, headers, subheaders, images, bold, italics, links, quotes, lists, etc.

Select your text and choose a feature from the story editor toolbar. The toolbar is described in the image below.

Illustrated by the author, using Canva.

Read all about how to use the formatting options in this story:

Dear new writer, spend time designing your text. This is not just an empty phrase. I have stopped reading many stories due to the lack of readability. I will read your text if you make it easy to read.

This story is written in response to Ellie Jacobson great prompt What Are Your Tips for New Medium Writers?

My latest story, about anxiety and mental health:

Do you want to become a part of the Medium community? If you’re not a member yet, I’ll be very happy if you sign up via my referral link. It’s $5 a month, giving you unlimited access to all stories on Medium. I’ll get a small commission at no additional cost for you.

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