Story Spotlight
How to Write a Hilarious (and Effective) Product Review
The first installment of a new Creators Hub series on what a single post can tell you about how to reach readers on Medium
What makes a story work on Medium? This is something we think about all the time, so we’re sharing regular Story Spotlights with the readers of Creators Hub. Here’s why we think “Google Slides is Actually Hilarious,” a story by Laura Javier, is resonating with readers on Medium right now:
Relate to the reader
Javier’s piece does something all good writing should do: articulates something the reader has probably noticed or experienced, but couldn’t quite put into words. Who among us has not melted down while trying to get text aligned on a slide deck, a few minutes before a presentation at work? And yet, we all think we’re the only ones. Javier points out that when using Google Slides, text in circles is left-aligned by default, and writes, “This may seem like a small thing, but it is SUPER HILARIOUS. Centering text in a circle, who do you even think you are? By the way, LEFT-ALIGNED TO WHAT?!” Right away we know her voice is funny and engaging. The slides she’s created as examples are funny too, full of hidden jokes. How often do you read something that’s just pure fun?
When you’re writing, remember that readers have a lot of choices. Use their time well.
Share an expert POV
But Javier isn’t just poking fun at a tech platform’s design foibles for no reason. She tells us right off the bat that she’s a designer, and her bio reveals she works in product design at Instagram; she establishes these bonafides right away. Think about what qualifies you to write about your subject matter, and communicate this in your Medium bio and About page.
Ask your readers to do something
And finally, this post includes a clear Call to Action at the end. “But enough about me — how does Google Slides surprise and delight YOU on an hourly basis? Leave your favorite features in the comments, and smash that Like button!” The post has over 10k claps (“likes” in Medium land), and over 100 responses. Clearly, something is working.
Be original
There’s lots of content out there about product design, and what makes good or bad design. There’s plenty to read, all across the internet, about technology. In Javier’s piece, however, we have a fresh take that stands out. It can be tempting to try to replicate what others are doing. But in the end, readers read to be surprised and delighted. You have a unique voice and a unique take on your subject matter. Don’t be afraid to be an original.
