Four cold, hard truths on why people ignore your writing
When I began my indie writing career some time ago, nine out of ten articles said I had to publish every day to be successful.
Nearly three years later, they’re still saying the same thing.
Allow me to take a metaphorical chainsaw to this advice. Volume on its own has never equalled resonance.
So, I’m going to paint a more realistic picture of why people ignore your writing pulled from my own experiences — and hopefully help you avoid the mistakes I’ve made.
Open that bottle of tequila you've been saving and pour yourself a glass…these may sting a bit. Here we go.
Reason #1: You copy the leader
YouTube legend Casey Neistat once spit in my face.
I was watching his daily vlog, and he made a scathing comment that’s been tattooed on my brain ever since:
“You have to have your own thing.”
He went on to explain how there are thousands of copycatters out there trying to replicate his videos shot for shot. They use the same style, the same storytelling structure, and the same music.
His point? Someone will never choose to watch your not-as-good Neistat replica over the real thing.
Once upon a time, I took a similar approach to writing. I’d find a successful writer like Tim Ferris or Seth Godin and emulate their tone, ideas, and pacing.
But, eventually, I received a swift verbal kick to the groin from a real estate mogul. “Don’t be lazy,” he said. “People aren’t idiots. They will tear a fake apart like sharks in a feeding frenzy.”
Please, please be original. Write the world as you see it. I promise, your audience will thank you for it.
Reason #2: Readers don’t respect you
When Ev Williams announced a buyout of the Medium editorial team in March, dozens of writers scrambled to comment.
And I ignored every single article besides these two:
Why them?
Because both writers have earned my respect. They consistently publish thoughtful, quality commentary on Medium news and related topics. In fact, I went out of my way to search for their specific opinions after reading Ev’s post.
It’s not about being early or being the best. You want to be first in mind on a given subject.
Now, I suppose you want to know how to do it…
Never overpromise.
If you say you will make me rich from writing, I better walk away from your article with the knowledge to do so.
Use familiar language.
David Ogilvy has the greatest line in history on using fancy words.
“Get on the bus. Go to Iowa. Stay on a farm for a week and talk to the farmer. Come back to New York by train and talk to your fellow passengers in the day-coach. If you still want to use the word, go ahead.”
Be steady and helpful.
I trust writers who improve my day, make me better at my craft, or teach me something. Show up and bring value consistently.
Double down on your winners.
You don’t need to recreate the wheel every time. If somethings working, see how far you can take it.
Gain respect by respecting your reader's time. Bring quality often on topics you have experience or knowledge in. It’s not rocket science.
Reason #3: Your opinions are boring
Vanilla opinions produce wretched writing.
Anyone with a pen and a thought can craft beautiful sentences. Do you possess the confidence to make those sentences interesting?
I’ve always tried to be honest and somewhat aggressive with my takes. I want you to disagree. To think about why I’m right or wrong on your evening commute. To share an article with your friend and say, “Can you believe this…!?”
Most writers fear being offensive so they leave out their personal opinions. Ipso facto, most writers are boring.
And boring writers die. Always.
Reason #4: Your formatting is lazy
Gigantic blocks of text make me want to bash my head into a wall. Alright, maybe not that extreme. But dull formatting will alienate your readers with goldfish attention spans (which is a lot of us).
Remember, people are busy and often on their mobile phones — they skim for bolded fonts, subheads, and noteworthy quotes. Don’t be selfish. Use formatting to improve their readability, not your own.
No blueprint will show you how to overcome every piece of resistance thrown your way. No magic formula exists to keep readers coming back for more. I certainly don’t have all the answers and struggled to get steady traffic for years.
Honestly, sometimes people just won’t like you. And there’s nothing you can do about it.
But, certain things are under your control. You can care enough to be original, consistent, and interesting. You can say ‘fuck it’ and have an opinion. You can respect how readers consume content.
This is how you go beyond being another boring writer. This is how you become great.
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