How Writing Over 100 Medium Articles Spotlights the Unsung Struggles and Harmonies

Drawing Inspiration from Music Legends and building momentum

Since I began on the platform last year, I have recently surpassed 100 published pieces, which I consider a milestone worth sharing. I planned to post something when I hit 50, but never got around to it. This is a more significant achievement, anyway.

So, it’s the perfect opportunity to discuss my challenges and how my style changed during that time.

As someone who has always been passionate about both writing and music, I find it natural to combine the two in my creative process. Whenever I feel stuck or uninspired, I turn to my favorite tunes and artists for motivation.

What can Music Legends teach us about writing?

I love Dolly Parton. At almost 80 years young, she continues to break records. As the Queen of Country Music, she’s written over 3000 songs and recorded 450. That’s around 15% of her total collection.

And of those 450, only about 5.5% reached number 1 on the Country Western Charts. Considering the large quantity she’s written, that’s less than 1%. But she is arguably one of the most prolific and accomplished singer-songwriters ever.

Not a Dolly or country music fan? Let’s look at the Boss then.

Bruce Springsteen, another copious songwriter, recorded 399 tracks. But did you know he only had 1 number 1 song on the Billboard Charts, Blinded by the Light, and he didn’t even sing it?

There is no need for an abacus or even fingers to calculate that he has no number 1s of his own — zero, zilch, none, nada, at least not in the United States. Nonetheless, he’s still known as the Boss and one of the most famous musicians in history.

Behind the scenes

Why am I droning on about songs and statistics?

Because it’s a perfect example of the reality of mastery in any field. It’s easy to see the fame and fortune of being a celebrated musician. We often don’t see the hard work, dedication, and sheer number of failures or dues that came before.

The same can be said for any career or passion pursued. Behind every success lies countless hours of hard work, determination, and a trail of setbacks or failures.

What I thought vs. reality

I had no idea what to expect when I opened my account. It was a steep learning curve with setbacks — rejections from publications and low engagement with little to no views on certain articles. I had moments of self-doubt when I questioned the point if no one was reading my work.

I spent hours fussing over every word and sentence only to find no one even cared. I didn’t think it would be easy. But I certainly thought quality would trump all, and within weeks, I would be swimming in comments, claps, and highlights.

Newsflash: That DID NOT happen. Not EVEN close.

I realized I needed to engage and read other authors to begin building my network in addition to consistently publishing. Attaining 1k claps seemed so far out of reach. Imagine climbing a mountain where you could see the top but never quite reach that beautiful apex.

However, I kept composing, publishing, and evolving. It took several months to get regular engagement. Finally, by December, I was hitting 1k claps and 20+ comments on most of my articles, with some going higher.

I felt like I hit the mother load.

Yay me, I was getting the hang of this online thing and making some progress. Although a slow grind, witnessing the tangible results proved exhilarating.

My writing crescendo

It took me eight months to amass 100 pieces since I don’t publish daily. My perfectionistic tendencies won’t allow it. I must feel it’s “perfect” before hitting that submit button. Even then, I often edit after sending it to a publication or self-publishing.

I just can’t help myself!

I will soon reach another granddaddy accomplishment: 1k followers, which I am super stoked about. I won’t discuss the details of engagement and building your network because I’m sure you’ve heard it all before. Instead, I want to elaborate on how my writing transformed over the months since my first publication.

How I’ve evolved

I floundered around for a while, trying to find my voice. I can write in various tones, from formal to highly academic, casual, snarky, vulnerable, and research-oriented. I found shorter inspirational stuff with a positive message did well, so I wrote much of that initially.

Then the program wanted heartfelt narratives, so I crafted more of those. Mostly, they did well, and I got my first boost when I wrote my menopause¹ article in November.

It took a chunk more stories before I received my next one this month about my struggles with ADHD² growing up. Ironically, after writing about being a one-boost wonder. Even more ironically, because I wasn’t trying for one.

I wrote that piece exactly how I wanted it. I weaved parts of my life, research, and informative content to both educate and hopefully inspire.

Did I find the magic boost formula?

No, I did not, since a wide range of genres, lengths, styles, and topics are selected. There is no one formulaic approach to write for it. Some strategies may be more advantageous depending on your subject and background.

One “failproof” method that seems to work wondrously for one author may not for another.

What I did learn from my second boost, though, is that the way I love to write has an audience. I just need to connect with more of them. My first one received nearly 1k views, over 600 reads, and a 70% read ratio (RR). My second has already surpassed those numbers while maintaining the same RR.

Fine-tune your writing cadence

In a post by Linda Caroll, she mentioned that providing intricate details about your experiences may captivate your dedicated followers. But, it might resonate less with a broader group. Your network of readers finds memoirs fun and exciting to read.

They already feel connected to you, provided you’ve worked to build one. Those from a large and random distribution on the platform don’t know you. That’s where the “What’s in it for me“ and “Why should I care about this?” comes crashing into the equation

We are all familiar with the phrase: add value.

Strangers may not be as inclined to spend their time reading solely about your life experiences. They want something that will benefit them in some way. For me, this comes in the form of research to provide information and knowledge.

Outlier serenades

There are exceptions, of course. Some authors have gained massive followings with their autobiographical storytelling. I’m not saying that type of writing can’t find major success. It can and does while also providing entertainment, inspiration, and life lessons.

It’s just important to understand your strengths and cater to them. That kind of writing doesn’t align well with mine.

Linda suggested expanding your readership by trimming down overly detailed stories. Incorporate your own anecdotes and supplement the article with informative content. It changes from exclusively sharing your memoir to educating and raising awareness on specific topics.

It tends to blend personal, research, and expository essays that may add persuasion into the mix. Now, this is not only talking my language but screaming it.

What is this method?

I call it PRE(P) writing, which fits my background, training, and natural abilities. I enjoy weaving individual experiences, research, and informative content into my material. It usually ends with an element of persuasion. But other times, it’s more inspirational or uplifting.

This method lets you connect with readers on a more human level while making more mundane information come to life. Many people find it more enjoyable. You offer them more value by sharing information and raising awareness about various subjects.

Ones that you find important or exciting but that also connect with your audience.

Getting my groove back

This type of prose is much easier for me than pulling together a completely creative essay, which I find an exhausting brain drain. It’s more satisfying than an informative composition, how-to, or listicle.

Why is this my sweet spot? Because of my love for research, data, and innovation.

It’s like assembling a writing puzzle to find supporting evidence for your arguments. What snippets of your life do you infuse to make it more relatable? What direction will you take it in, and what will your overarching message be?

And the best reason? You constantly learn and expand your knowledge.

Finding the right beat

I shied away from publishing this type of work for a long time, thinking it wasn’t “real” writing, it was cheating, or no one would be interested. It may not seem glamorous, but it can be highly effective and rewarding.

If you find it hard to come up with inventive content or feel burned out by informative material, why not give PRE(P) composing a shot? You may be surprised at the depth of layers and engagement it can add to your final product. Plus, you will add tangible value to your target audience by providing educational information and relatable anecdotes.

Finding your sweet spot and what works for you is key.

Now, don’t get me wrong — PRE(P) is not without its challenges. It requires discipline and focus to stay on topic and avoid rambling or going off on tangents. Additionally, finding your rhythm and developing a flow with this style may take some time, especially if you’re not used to crafting your narratives this way.

My distinct PRE(P) melody

I should have realized long ago that I needed to lean into my natural style. Followers would comment on how I leave them with intriguing facts and stats. They shared that they learned from my pieces as I began aligning my articles in that direction.

It’s the educator in me.

One important aspect of PRE(P) or any writing is being genuine. This means expressing yourself and your perspective while being respectful. Trying to emulate others can be tempting. But staying true to yourself will ultimately attract like-minded individuals who connect with your content on a deeper level.

Not all of my current readers will be drawn to a more research-focused style, and that’s okay. You can’t appeal to everyone. What works for one person doesn’t always work for another. It’s not about reaching the largest audience possible. It’s about connecting with those genuinely engaging with what you have to say.

Striking the write chord

Hitting the milestone of 100 stories felt like creating and finishing a personalized masterpiece. One meant for me, but I am beyond grateful for having others to share the fragments with.

Reflecting on my journey this past year, I’ve realized that, similar to music legends, success isn’t solely about hitting the top of the charts. And it’s not about chasing after boosts. It’s about embracing the rhythm of consistency and continuous improvement — whatever that means for you individually.

So, as I celebrate this achievement with all my fellow authors and fabulous readers, I’m not just counting publications. I’m also counting the lessons, the connections, and the joy of embracing my unique voice. Whether you’re a Dolly fan or rocking to the Boss, remember, every writer has their own chart-topping story.

Here’s to the next 100 posts and the uncharted compositions awaiting discovery.

¹ First Boost in November 2023

Beyond Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, and the Change: My Menopausal Story

It’s so much more than physical discomfort

medium.com

² Second Boost in February 2024

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