Navigating the Ups and Downs of Unexpected Success
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Chapter 1: The Surprise of Viral Success
In my previous article, I experienced a surprising level of engagement—something I had never anticipated. After years of writing on Medium without much recognition, my latest piece discussing the Will Smith and Chris Rock Oscars incident unexpectedly gained traction.
Photo by Kin Kwesy on Unsplash
It’s ironic, but sometimes success can be more of a burden than a blessing. While my article gained views, the notion of what constitutes "viral" success can be misleading. Although I now have nearly 800 views, it’s still a modest number in the grand scheme of things, particularly when considering the lack of curation from the platform.
Will Smith: A Case Study in Male Vulnerability
As I wrote my piece, I had no expectations of it becoming a standout article. It turned out that a few well-chosen keywords helped it gain visibility, for which I owe a nod to Google’s algorithms.
Shout out to Larry Page and Sergey Brin. You're the real MVPs.
However, this newfound visibility revealed a double-edged nature of success. Most of my traffic came from search engines, which hasn’t significantly impacted my revenue. The sheer volume of readers has also made me apprehensive about my next piece—how can I top this?
Screenshot of stats of my stories from April 2022
This bittersweet experience has left me hesitant to write again. The fear of regression looms large: how can I produce something that meets or exceeds this level of interest?
Rediscovering the Joy of Writing
Now, I find myself diving into SEO research, analyzing trending topics and how to leverage Medium’s tagging system. It's clear I've been approaching this all wrong, focusing too much on optimization rather than the joy of writing.
Writing is infinitely more gratifying when it flows naturally, free from the constraints of SEO and virality. Reconnecting with that mindset is crucial for my creative journey. I needed to share this experience to overcome the mental block that follows a standout article.
When viewed from this perspective, "success" becomes less daunting.
A classic Life Call commercial that humorously addresses the struggles of getting up after a fall.
A parody video that pokes fun at the popular Life Alarm commercial, exploring the humorous side of similar situations.
Chapter 2: Embracing the Journey
Ultimately, navigating the complexities of unexpected success is part of the writing journey. While it can bring challenges, it also presents opportunities for growth and creativity.
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