There are More Things to Write About Than Writing on Medium.

Summary

The author emphasizes the importance of diversifying writing topics beyond the subject of writing itself on Medium, suggesting that writers should cater to a broader range of interests to engage readers and attract potential clients or employers.

Abstract

The article discusses the prevalence of content about writing on Medium, noting that while writing tips are useful, they overshadow a multitude of other potential topics. The author, who is also a copywriter, points out that writing for an audience means focusing on what interests the reader, which often extends beyond the craft of writing. They suggest that aspiring bloggers and copywriters should explore various subjects, such as hobbies or personal experiences, to captivate readers and increase their chances of professional opportunities. The author also stresses the necessity of correcting grammar and spelling mistakes to maintain credibility as a writer.

Opinions

The author believes that Medium users should write about a wider array of subjects to cater to diverse reader interests.
They express that the focus on writing about writing can be tiresome and less engaging for the majority of readers who are not interested in the craft itself.
The author suggests that writing about personal hobbies or interests can lead to opportunities with publications or clients in those specific fields.
They highlight the importance of writing content that is reader-centric, using the pronoun "you" to engage the audience emotionally and effectively.
The author is critical of the numerous articles on Medium that discuss personal writing achievements, such as follower count or earnings, as they may set unrealistic expectations for new writers.
They recommend using tools like Grammarly to avoid grammar and spelling mistakes, which can detract from a writer's professionalism and credibility.

There are More Things to Write About Than Writing on Medium.

You should have a wide variety of topics to work on.

I have only been on Medium for a month, and I keep seeing tons of articles that are all about writing. Whether it is about getting 100 followers, how much money someone made in a month on Medium, and how-to tips on writing. I don’t mind the tips on writing, but there are more topics to write about than the art of the word.

Having some training as a copywriter and still finding it hard to find my first client, it is important to remember who you are writing for. Of course, some of us are here to write about our problems and triumphs. But you’re not just writing for yourself; you’re writing for the reader. Unfortunately, some people join publications just to read and not to write.

If you want to look for a job as a blogger on places like Upwork or Problogger, you would see what topics your future employer or client would like you to write, and most of the time, it’s not about the written word. Instead, I see jobs on those platforms asking for writers who know something about sports, motorcycles, education, and more.

The other thing to remember, outside of the Medium, (And I am guilty of this too), is to not write about yourself. In copywriting, I learned that readers would ask, “What is in it for me?” It means that everything you write for employers and clients is more about the reader using the pronoun “you” more. If you want to be a copywriter, you have to use emotional words to get the reader to hang on to your every word and buy the product or service.

I don’t think that many readers want to write. They want to know more about other topics that are of interest to them.

It’s Not Just on Medium Either.

I mentioned in a previous article that I joined Medium because I don’t have much experience writing content. That’s one skill that I need as a copywriter. So now I have some experience writing whatever I am interested in, and hopefully, sometime in the future, these articles will attract future employers and/or clients.

Now in my Medium feed, I am seeing a lot of articles about writing on Medium. That’s except for the Medium team, who is writing tips for us to be better writers. But I am tired of seeing how to get 100 followers, how much money a writer made, or what an author thinks about Medium’s recent changes to the platform. I really don’t care about how much money you made in a month, and neither will your audience, which are not medium members. The chances are that those who want to join Medium will think that they will make the same amount as you, only to be disappointed when they get paid.

I would love to read about a lot of different topics that don’t have Medium in them. And trust me, there are tons of other things that writers can write that don’t involve the platform you are writing on.

What do We Write About Then?

Write about your favorite hobby. The chances are that there will be an editor of a website or magazine from that same hobby that will contact you to write for them. Or something like that.

Or how about writing a listicle about your top 10 favorite albums of all time. How about a memory or a funny story that you encountered. There are tons of other subjects out there other than writing for Medium that you all can write about.

Spelling and Grammar Mistakes

If you want to be a writer, you have to correct your grammar and spelling. That is what Grammarly is for. I do see a lot of Medium articles with grammatical and spelling mistakes. And it is not just from non-native English speakers too. Yes, everyone makes those mistakes, and you do have to correct those before you hit publish.

In conclusion, there are many things to write about other than writing on Medium. I wish to see more of that instead.