I’m tired of lists on Medium — Make viral posts, improve your writing, gain more followers, etc…

Walter Reid
2 min readApr 14, 2022

So I decided to make a list with the short form answers. Oh, the irony Walter! Now you can learn how to do all of these things in a simple to read list.

1. Ways to make a viral post —

Create Eye-catching headlines (“I was sued for $27,345 dollars”)
Concise sub-title and a kicker (“Writers beware, it could happen to you!”)
Impactful image (“Someone screaming”)
Nailing the first sentence and of course, value adding content (Payoff: It was a work of fiction)

2. Self improvement lists —

Build Easy to accomplish Habits/Routines (Like drugs or smoking)
Set clear goals (and keep them for god sake!)
Use systems to help decision making (I use a 20-sided die and tarot cards)
Emotional Self-Regulation (I feel emotionally drained already)
Be a student of Learning (I do this by reading lots of lists)

3. Ways to improve your writing —

Write what inspires you (or 5 things — easy peasy)
Establish a writing routine and stick to it (see: Self Improvement)
Become an avid reader (I’ve read the Harry Potter series, six times)
See yourself as a writer (see above)
Write, write, write (Can be shortened to “write³”)
Start small (I started so small I was nonexistent)
Join a writers critique group
Grab your reader from the get-go (note to self: should move this higher)
Use powerful verbs. Avoid adverbs (Also adjective like powerful)
Always think reader-first (“the reader is always right”)

4. Ways to gain followers —

Make thoughtful comments on stories in your niche (Note to self: Find niche)
Join Medium-centric Facebook groups and share your work (What’s Facebook?)
Respond to comments (See my article on I’m terrified of reading my responses”)
Publish in larger publications (“Anyone? Anyone here?”)
Start your own publication and niche down (Idea: “Writer’s Blokke 2”)
Curation, Curation, Curation (Can be shortened to “Curation³”)

5. Ways to make more money as a writer —

Write Blog Posts for Other Websites (No one cares about my posts on linked-in)
Rewrite Resumes and Cover Letters (Note to self: Need to update resume)
Rewriting Web Pages (I do this enough and no one pays me for it)
Writing Emails (Yes, everyone can use a helping hand)
Repurposing Content (Note to self: 5 things I like about Medium)
Write a Book Yourself or for Someone Else (Who’s kidding who, someone else)
Write Tweets or Social Media Updates
Write Sales Copy for Books (“It was a dark and stormy sales copy”)

Or, of course, Write on medium (Medium — Check)

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Walter Reid

I write for the uplifters, the engagers, and the passionate. My alter egos alter ego.