Until I started writing for a couple of different online platforms, the only experience I had with the literal writing process was for academics or for my own pleasure. I have always loved to write, but had simply never pursued it as a hobby. When I was hired as a writer for The Odyssey in September 2015, I was new to the world of writing online, and I wasn't really sure what to expect or what was expected of me. All I knew was that I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with others in hopes that they would enjoy them.
Upon being given the spiel on how to navigate an online writing platform, I was informed that I was free to write about anything my little heart so desired. I don't know why I thought I was going to be given a list of topics to choose from, but I was ecstatic and I wasn't going to complain about finally having this chance. My imagination was free at last! But then I found myself terrified of this freedom, and I even started to question my own ability to write. I thought, will others like what I produce? Will what I write make them think? Will they agree? Will they disagree? Should a comma go there or there, or should I just create an entirely new sentence? Is now a good time to start a new paragraph? Good gracious... Am I even a good writer? Wait, what defines a good writer?!
Spoiler alert: I am not going to answer any of the above questions because I honestly don't think there is one good answer to any of them.
I struggle with these questions every time I sit down to write. Right this very second, I am questioning my own ability to finish this piece. However, as I have grown as a writer and continue to read many different pieces of literature, I have realized the guidelines for what constitutes "good writing" are constantly changing. That's when it hit me: I can't please everyone.
When you're writing online there is a certain pressure to create work that conforms to popular opinion. Not only do our publishers create incentives based off of how many views, likes, and shares we get on each piece, all writers crave to be applauded for their work. Just like dogs begging at their owners' feet as they sit scarfing down a piece of prime rib, we type article after article at the mercy of what we think society wants us to produce. For all I know, next week Kim and Kanye will get divorced and it doesn't matter that real crises are going on all over the world, that's what people would rather read about. The truth is, most people would rather gawk over the details of two celebrities' personal life's or read a collection of gifs depicting why summer is the best season ever than they would take the time to read about what is actually going on in the world.
Pause. Before I get myself into a heap of trouble, let me say that there are plenty of fantastic writers for multitudes of online platforms that do not exclusively write listicles and trendy pieces for recognition and popularity. In fact, many writers absolutely love writing these types of articles because they're quick and easy, and they even take the time to add a little bit of depth to an otherwise stale piece of work. But ask yourself, as you scroll through your Facebook timeline do you see more shared articles pertaining to climate change, business, world news, foreign affairs, politics, and education, or do you observe more trendy articles about society's latest obsession? If I had to guess, it'd be the latter of the two. I am by no means attempting to be hypocritical. I write plenty of listicles, cute and trendy pieces, random articles that don't promote my full potential as a writer, and even mainstream articles with cheesy titles to grab people's attention and gain a few extra popularity points. I am not an exception.
When did writing become more of a popularity contest than a form of art? Furthermore, when did the demand for material that makes people think become lessened by the demand for lifeless, dare I say "articles", that are produced thoughtlessly to make people laugh? I know I'm being harsh. In fairness, I am being just as harsh on myself for occasionally writing such thoughtless pieces. I have written listcle after listcle because those pieces are typically my most popular. People, myself included, gravitate towards articles that are titled with numbered lists because they're often relatable and contain fewer words and more pictures. Therefore, the incentive is a lot higher for a writer to create a list of summer recipes that gets 2000 views than it is to write a 1000 word piece about climate change that gets no attention.
Now that I have reached the 1000 word mark, I am assuming it's about time to wrap it up. If you have made it this far, thank you for reading!! All I can say is, next time you have to chose between reading a list of 20 reasons your favorite TV drama is the best versus reading a little bit more lengthy article about a meaningful topic that strikes your interest, read the latter first. Don't completely give listicles the boot, but challenge yourself to reading just as many thought provoking articles as you do cute and trendy articles. With this being said, I challenge writers to step up and get out of your comfort zone. There is nothing wrong with a mind numbingly dumb and pointless piece every once and a while, but don't forget to challenge yourself! Find a topic you are passionate about and share your thoughts with the world.
