Here's a statistic: time.com reports the number of Internet users has increased from 738 million people in 2000 to 3.2 billion in 2015. Let me reiterate. Currently, more than 3 billion people are now using the Internet, according to the United Nations agency that oversees international communications. So, while it's important to remember that what you put out on the Internet will stay there forever, it's also incredibly easy to feel overlooked when you're trying to get noticed.
But here's the thing to remember: unless you're a Kardashian, you will never reach 3 billion people. Probably not over the Internet, and definitely not in real life either.
Blogs are all the rage right now. Journalism and communications majors are quivering with their AP StyleBooks now because any one with Internet access has a forum to voice their opinions, and quite loudly. What makes someone a better writer than someone else? Well, certainly the training of a degree won't hurt you. Knowing the little things like AP Style, the "inverted pyramid" or the "5 W's" will most likely get you noticed over someone who doesn't know them. But, like all of the creative arts, some people just have a natural knack for writing and are better at it than others.
There's a fine line.
It's a hard decision to write what you're passionate about, and what people would like to mindlessly read on line. It's no secret people would rather read "15 Signs You're From *Insert Home Town Here*" than "How It Feels to Lose a Parent". Maybe it's because they're excited their hometown is being mentioned on the big, bad, world wide web, or maybe it's because they don't want to make themselves sad. Either way, it is frustrating when it feels like no one cares what you're writing about, because a million other people have already written the same thing.
Last week, I published a piece titled Be A Low Maintenance Friend. That was an issue I found important to me, and a topic that I felt Odyssey readers would resonate with. However, I was frightened to publish it because I felt like readers would say something like "oh, another one?" and just pass it by. Then I read an amazing piece by Jennifer Garam, titled How To Keep Writing When No One Gives A Shit. Seriously, whether you're a writer or not, this is an article every working person needs to read. It inspired me to write what mattered to me, and not what I wanted to go viral.
So, the question at hand arises: How do I stand out on the Internet? How do I make my writing get noticed? In a sea of listicles and open-letters-to, how do I produce content that won't just go viral, but will resonate with readers for longer?
For starters, here are some writing basics: think ahead and write down your ideas.
Every time someone says something funny, upsetting, controversial, thought-provoking or even something you think is stupid, write it down. If you thought twice about it, it's a topic worth considering writing about. I wish I had a dollar for every time I forgot about an amazing idea I had earlier in the week that I forgot about because I didn't write it down –– then I wouldn't need to write! Just kidding, I write because I love it, which brings on the next point.
Use your voice!
Also, know your audience. One of the reasons I love Odyssey is because it's audience-generated content. I love being able to write what I think the readers will enjoy reading; and because of that, I get to use my voice. I'm a senior year journalism major, so writing online is a huge break from all of the third person reporting I've gotten used to. There's nothing better in a piece than providing a reader with a voice they can read it with.
Consider the impact of your topic on readers.
Ask yourself this: Is this a topic that's been widely written about? Will my take on this topic be different than others? What is it about my version of this story that will make this piece shine. It's OK to write about things people have written about before; with 3 billion people on the Internet it's virtually impossible not to. But with every piece you write, make readers need to read it.
Consider length.
One downside of the Internet is that attention spans are shorter than ever. If your piece is not enticing and gripping to your audience, be mindful of the length of your piece. Readers get distracted very easily. Readers tend to do better with pieces that are broken into shorter sections, not that that is what I'm doing here with you guys or anything.
Put effort into your titles.
You can have an amazing piece, but nobody is going to read "This is an Article About Something That Happened to Me." I'm the first to admit I struggle with this; being clever is not an easy task. Leave readers wanting something more, simply by the taste of your title.
Share the pieces of your peers.
Writers are strange people. No two writers are alike. And whether you like it or not, a writer cannot be a writer without also being a reader. Some of the most important aspects you can learn as a writer, be it good or bad, will come from the writing of your peers. Share and be proud of the work of your friends. Don't consider them competition. If someone likes a piece you shared written by a colleague, they might return to see what you're writing. Bonus points: you share theirs, they'll share yours.
Write what you'd like to read.
If you groan at the thought of writing another filler piece, then readers will groan at the thought of reading it. Write about what you'd like to read. Think about pieces that catch your eye while surfing the web, and write pieces that you think will catch other readers eyes while they surf the web.
Most of all, be patient.
Remember, you are your hardest critic! Even as I write this, I'm second guessing myself thinking someone has probably already written something like this, or what credibility do I have to dole out advice to other writers when I'm just starting out myself? But I'm not going to let that stop me from creating.
Write for yourself. Write content you are passionate about and creative with. Write content you are proud of.Don't write because you feel like you have to. I try to keep a versatile profile, filled with both pieces that are light reads and stories that I cried while writing. Use your real life experiences, thoughts and beliefs to reach out to those who too have been through them. The more patient I am, the more likely it is that someone will find an article of mine and reach out to me saying how much they appreciated that work, and that, to me, is what it means to be a successful writer.
