I've been reading and writing for the Odyssey for a decent amount of time, and it didn't take me long to notice some of the patterns that pop up on the website. Many of them pop up because they are relatable or relevant, but some seem to happen because they are what the writers know. The possibility of writing a completely original piece becomes harder and harder, and you may often find yourself reading two articles that look almost identical, but one has 100x as many shares. It's hard not to wonder what it is that makes one a hit and another just one more thing on the interwebs. Perhaps somewhere in this article, we may figure it out.

1. A Letter to ...

Thank you, I love you, or I'm better without you; it tends to be one of the three. It's the article that lets its writer, reader or share-er say exactly what they've wanted to say to a certain someone for a long time but they either can't get the courage or they won't see them again. It brings nice relief to know that how you feel and what you are thinking is being heard, even if the intended audience does not read it or realize it's for them.

2. The Political Rant

I'm not sure if these are actually always prevalent, but with the pending election you can bet you will see a lot of politicized articles trying to convince you why "you should support so and so" or why "so and so's policies are off-the-mark" or why "your vote matters." Though these articles seem to be rampant, they are still all the more important. They show that there are some college students out there that care (at least mildly) about the future of this country. Just be careful to check the facts.

3. The Relationship Article

These articles are written to either defend the author's relationship or lack thereof. They make the audience feel less alone and provide readers with someone who seems to have similar attitudes. Relationship articles are again a way for the author and the reader to feel heard, and remove themselves from a pending argument. Sometimes they can help the audience feel like everything will be alright, because their life is exactly where it should be.

4. The List

The article you are reading at this very moment falls under this category. Lists are a very broad option, they can cover an expanse of topics and you can approach them from just about any angle. Just be sure to have enough bullets and lots of memes and gifs!

5. The Throwback Thursday Article

I don't believe I have ever actually seen "throwback Thursday" in the title, but these are the types of articles where the author reminisces on their short long life. It's an opportunity to bond with their friends and generation as a whole. "Hey, remember this toy we all played with?" These can also act as a warning of sorts to people who will be following in your footsteps. "Hey, if you are about to do this, you should know this." They give everyone the chance to breathe as they stop looking forward to the future and the unknown, and instead look at the past and all of its pleasures and lessons.

6. The Personal Piece

These can be both the hardest and easiest to write or identify with. The author bears their soul in these articles, which shows, and asks that the audience accept them. Personal pieces say, "Hey, this is how I feel and I want you to understand that." They can be pushy or frustrated or happy, because personal pieces are the author's chance to show that they are human. A reminder everyone needs every now and again.

7. The Well-Researched Articles

Sometimes, when you fall on a really great topic, and you know it's good, you decide to go full ham -- that's this category. These articles are about just about anything, and they tend to be pretty persuasive. They are meaty and meaningful, and writers who write articles such as this should be applauded.

8. The Sarcastic Article

I just might like these the most. Sarcasm can be hard to execute in words, but when done well these are gold. They often show deep hole or disparities in thinking that many people wouldn't notice if not for these articles.

9. The Review

Movie, book, or TV show. These articles come about because the author loved or hated said subject or just wasn't sure what to write about. They sometimes including ratings or descriptions or even spoilers. They are sometimes exactly what you need to know when you didn't know you needed to know it. (If that makes sense).

10. The Off-the-Beaten Path Piece

These are the hoards of articles that don't fall into any one category. They tend not to be as popular as the other categories simply because they aren't looking to bring in a large audience as much as just exist. They are often well-written and look at something the writer can't seem to stop thinking about. They are out there and they are special.

11. The Spongebob Article

Spongebob seems to be the representation of ourselves in post-childhood. Everyone understands a Spongebob meme and everyone feels they can relate to Spongebob. Even if the article isn't primarily Spongebob, you can bet that at some point in most articles he will come up, and it will bring you joy.

There are probably some article types I am forgetting, but when push comes to shove these seem to be the most prevalent. Look over at the column on the side, how many of them fall into one of these 11 categories? Odyssey writers are inspired by their audience, and one can only hope that they hit the mark.