Joshua Mason's Newsletter

A huge thank you to the new subscribers this week. Awesome to have you here. Let’s dive in to what what’s working on Medium.

Last week we hit the importance of headlines and introductions for your Medium stories.

But how do we come up with topics and ideas that resonate?

I’m just over 90 days in on Medium, and I just wrote my 20th story today.

It took me a few stories to realize something - AI writing is everywhere and authenticity and story telling now reign supreme.

It almost doesn’t matter what the topic happens to be if you can tell a story.

I take stories from my background - could be anything. Think marriage, dating, breakups, starting a job, quitting a job, school, or any topic that you have real experience in. That story is the objective (the events or the facts).

I pair that with the subjective - what I thought, felt, said, or wanted to say.

Then mix in a lesson or takeaway.

No one wants to hear about the time you went to see a movie. They want something to walk away with - the thing they’ll think about after they read your story.

If you can weave those elements into your writing, you have a great shot at a successful Medium story. Something that AI can’t beat.

I jot down notes steadily through the day in my phone. As soon as they pop into my head. If you don’t they will leave just as quickly as they come.

I get most of my ideas while reading or listening to podcasts. Those things just help my mind process past events in a new way.

If you get stuck, you can always make a list that people find helpful.

I alternate between writing stories with a takeaway with “how to” or “what’s working for me” stories on Medium.

Those are easy because I’m writing to me just three months ago. Maybe your list is what works for you on another platform.

Each platform is full on beginners, and things you think are obvious will be completely new to someone else.

Talk soon,

Josh