How To Write Identity-Based Content On Odyssey
The possibilities are endless.
A large portion of Odyssey articles with the most engagement come from creators who took one or more of their identities and found a way to bring them to life in a way that other people who shared those identities found themselves relating to that content.
Here are just a few examples:
An Open Letter To The People Who Don't Tip Their Servers
15 Things Only Lake People Will Understand
If You've Ever Been Called Overly-Emotional Or Too Sensitive, This Is For You
Creating identity-based content is one of the best ways to begin your Odyssey portfolio. The old saying "write what you know" exists for a reason — and it can not be more true.
So here is some of the best ways to use your identity to fuel creative ammo:
Start by asking yourselves these questions:
1. Where am I from? (geographically, culturally, education, background)
Example:
The 9 Stages Of 'Goodbye' You'll Only Understand If You're From The Midwest
2. What do I believe? (religions, convictions, strongly held moral values)
Example:
To End Systemic Racism, Black People Need To Be Heard
3. How do I feel about the government? (local, state, national, laws, political parties, current events, war)
Example:
College Republicans Are Tired Of Hearing These 8 Things
4. What do I do for fun? (sports, hobbies, passions, talents)
Example:
8 Things Dancers Miss When They Stop Dancing
5. What hardships have I gone through? (disability, illness, loss)
Example:
What You Learn After Losing A Parent At A Young Age
6. Who are the people I love? (family, friends, community, coworkers, classmates, roommates)
Example:
To My Best Friend Who Taught Me What True Friendship Is, I Can't Thank You Enough
7. What do I consume? (brands, celebrities, media)
Example:
15 Actual Thoughts You Have While Wandering Around TJ Maxx
8. What am I nostalgic about? (places, friends, holidays, toys, clothes, music)
Example:
30 Things You Know To Be True If You Grew Up Going To The Lake
9. What do I study? (what's your major, what do you want to do for a living)
Example:
21 Signs You're An Education Major
10. What pop culture am I passionate about? (movies, tv shows)
Example:
I'm Begging You, If You're Going To Watch One TV Show, Please Watch 'One Tree Hill'
By answering these, you've created AT LEAST 10 different identities for you to pull threads from. A great place to start is picking the identity you identify with the most. Let's say, for example, it's that you're a nursing student.
Just from that one identity, you can create something that everyone else in you go to school with — not to mention many others across the country and world relate to, such as this:
17 Things Only Nursing Students Would Understand
Now let's say, you want to write another piece using that identity, but want it to be different.
A great way to do this is by combining one identity with another.
So let's say that not only are you a nursing student, but you're also obsessed with "The Office" (who isn't?).
That combination could lead you to a piece of content like this:
19 Things About Being A Nursing Major, As Told By Michael Scott
Now, you've provided every nursing major who loves "The Office" with a unique piece of content to read, enjoy, and share. This is how things go viral.
So, next time you're thinking about writing an article, start with mapping out all of the identities you have. Write about one. Or maybe combine two of them together in a dynamic way. The possibilities are endless.
