4 Things That Will Ruin Your Articles

Please stop doing this

The Writing Master by Thomas Eakins, 1882 (Wikimedia Commons)

What makes a great article?

This is the golden question for every Medium writer.

While the answer will vary from niche to niche, there are certain things you should AVOID at all costs, regardless of what topic you’re writing about.

So, if you’re new to writing and want to avoid looking like an amateur, pay attention and follow this advice.

1. Lying to Your Audience

Having been in the realm of online publishing for many years, I’m no stranger to clickbait titles and outlandish statements.

They’re particularly prominent in self-help and entrepreneurial spaces. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a ridiculous claim from a writer, often in the title or the tagline of an article.

Some of the classics include:

• Making money online is easy.
• There’s a simple formula for success.
• Don’t think too much, just write.
• Anything with the phrase “Change Your Life” in the title.

I’m being a bit harsh here. But most of these phrases turn out to be pretty hollow beneath the surface. Loading your work with exaggerations or outright lies…