It’s Time To Stop Following The Rules

Storytelling, writing and engagement

Image of fish and shells on the beach, taken by the author

This past week I read a story about Medium changing the algo to focus on personal stories again (apologies to the author for forgetting who you are). And that got me thinking.

Not about using AI to help with my writing, Medium payouts (still in the mess of FOM cancellation), or another how to beat it article.

It made me noodle on how I quit taking chances on storytelling and moved right back into “structures” article writing. I revised my blog for that — sound advice from lessons learned and resources to support it.

What I got away from was opening the blank page, sharing a story to document my life’s adventures. Watch what resonated — or not. Then figure out how to use that one for the future.

It became about having the right hook, title, perfect length. Then it morphed into attracting claps and comments, reads and views. And of course it became about earnings.

What it stopped becoming about was connecting with your all in the most authentic way — boring details of everyday life.

So now you’ll see on page stories. Some short others lengthy but always using enough words to have a beginning, middle and end.