Your approach sucks.
Sorry. Not sorry.
Is this your truth? You put your heart into your writing. You edit, polish, and hit publish. And then? Crickets.
Maybe you get a few pity views from people you know. Maybe a couple of likes from strangers who never come back. Meanwhile, you see other writers blowing up with hundreds of reads, shares, and comments.
So what gives? Why is most of what you write always sitting in the dark? It seems like at least some of your stories should get some traction, right?
Here's some tea many don't like to say out loud. Stop thinking it's only about your writing. It's about why readers don't even give you a chance.
Here's some insight
1. Your Title Doesn't Pull People In
If your title feels like homework, nobody's clicking. Period. A title has one job. And that's to make the reader curious enough to click.
- "5 Lessons I Learned in Life" = Forgettable
- "I Lost Everything at 32. Here's 5 Things I'd Do Differently" = Clickable
2. You Buried the Hook
Listen, readers don't owe you their attention. They'll give you 3–5 seconds, tops. If the first line won't grab them, they're gone. Don't start with a history lesson. Don't warm up for three paragraphs. Start with a punch.
3. You're Writing for Yourself, Not Them
This one stings. But go ahead and take it in. If what you write doesn't show readers what's in it for them, they won't bother. People aren't too generous with their time online. Your article needs to holler: "Here's how your life will change if you read this!"
Also, write like you're actually talking to a person in everyday language. Don't make your writing too much like a dissertation or a formal report. And, be sure to break up long paragraphs. People will click away if your piece looks like a wall of text.
4. You Blend Into the Noise
There's a flood of pieces online like "How I…" and "What I learned…". If your title looks like so many other headlines, you'll vanish into the sea of sameness. You need an edge. Whether it's honesty, humor, or maybe an unfiltered perspective other people aren't brave enough to post.
5. You Stopped Selling After the Title
The title gets the click, but the subtitle keeps them there. Don't skip it. A strong subtitle promises value, emotion, or curiosity. It whispers: "Yes, you should read this because here's what you'll get."
And then keep the momentum by crafting each paragraph to make them want to go to the next and the next. They'll likely engage and follow as well.
The Takeaway
If nobody's clicking on your stories, it's not that you're a bad writer. It's that you're not giving readers a reason to choose you over the thousand other voices competing for their scroll.
Write for the reader. Hook them fast. Make every word earn its place. And remember that the best writing isn't just read. It's clicked first.
End of story.
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Amarie is a passionate writer and an avid reader exclusively on Medium. Thank you for supporting my passion for writing! I appreciate you.