You're staring at the screen thinking what you should be writing. The cries of the children needing food on the table saddens you. You need the payout, but you need to write something. What should you do? An idea comes to your head. Perhaps, if I just Google something interesting and copy and paste it on Steemit, it would be fine. I'm faster than smarter than a Cheetah (or the cheetah bot). I can get away with it, right? Alright, maybe the children crying bit was a bit too much. But, we have all been there. Some of us may have faced it during our University days and some on Steemit.
Plagiarizing is a very tempting idea. Why should you spend all those time writing something when someone else has already done it for you? Good things are meant to be shared, so should you not have the right to just copy and paste whatever you want? True, however, Steemit's enforcers are strict. Like a lecturer that sends your work through layers of plagiarism checks, Steemit does the same too. While a lecturer can suspend you, Steemcleaners and other community members can downvote you. I don't mind crossing my lecturer but not the entire community.
This does not address the most obvious issue, which is what should I write? How do I write something interesting when my life is not that interesting to begin with? Well, there are many ways, but instead of talking about those methods, let's compare them to the different types of burgers, shall we?
The Classic Cheeseburger
Ahhh.. The classic Cheeseburger, the perfect harmony between bread, meat, cheese and vegetables. You can never go wrong with it and it tastes good no matter what. I mean, not all of us have that hyper sensitive taste buds of Gordon Ramsey. I don't know about you, but give me a normal Cheeseburger with a juicy enough patty and I'm happy.
That in essence, is the gist of a good article. The patty is the Meat to your burger and article, it could be a concept, a technique, a how-to. These are normally factual posts that aims to solve a problem and provide readers with the guidance necessary to solve a certain issue. For example, you may want to write a post on how to exchange Steem dollars on Blocktrades. That's a problem that some are facing and your post may just help them.
While there are many who have written similar articles, the way you approach the write-up as well as the structure is unique. You may want to add in some thoughts and some experience in solving a particular problem. This is akin to the bun, the vegetables , the cheese and the sauce of the burger. While everyone knows what a Cheeseburger tastes like, some may want to add their very own sauce or a different type of cheese.
Once you combine the meat with the rest of the ingredients, you got yourself a burger. While your patty may be similar to others, the way in which you prepare or use the different types of ingredients may be different. As such, it sets your ever so normal Cheeseburger apart from the others. So why plagiarize when you can create something that is uniquely yours just by tweaking the approach, the method or just adding your own personal experience into your writing?
Try the Cheeseburger approach today!
The Meat-for-Bun Burger
If boring how-to posts or solving a problem is not your style, perhaps go for something creative? Something that defies conventional norms? If they say that a burger should be made of bread, you make the bread, meat. Why settle for one patty when you can make it all patty, right?
The Meat-for-Bun Burger form of writing is one that defies conventional norms. You may want to do a post that engages your audience on an issue. You may want to talk about something that is morally grey and may want to see what the larger community thinks of it. You may want to talk about something that is taboo for you or for some culturally. Of course, do be objective about it and set goals. You may want to be clear as to why you are writing a particular post to avoid stepping on anyone's toes.
This is similar to the Meat-for-Bun Burger, do go easy on it and don't overdo it. I don't think eating such a burger should be a daily affair, you know, for health reasons. Similar to writing on controversial topics, you may not want to make it a daily staple. Some may misunderstand what you may be trying to do. Although, it does add to the diversity to the different posts found on Steemit, like eating a Meat-for-Bun Burger, I hope you know what you are doing.
The Specialty Burgers
So you may know a certain skill that is unique or perhaps you are in the middle of an international crisis? Well, that is definitely Steemit worthy! Of course, this could range from anything that has happened from years ago to something that you are facing at present. Such posts do attract an audience. However, you may be wondering, how do I know if people would like it?
Such writing is akin to specialty burgers such as doughnut burgers or even vegetarian burgers. Not everyone likes it, some may hate it but people would eat it for the thrill of it and some may come back for more. Similar to posts on unique experiences, such posts do attract the attention of readers.
If you don't have any stories that are groundbreaking or perhaps you may deem your life experiences to be not as epic as it should be. Let me just say that everyone's life and experience is uniuique. What you may find boring or mundane may just be interesting to someone else. I have stayed in the beautiful city of Kota Kinabalu. After 8 years, it has become normal and mundane to me. However, to many others, it is paradise.
Be bold, be creative, create an epic burger that no one else has ever made with sauce made from the tears of a unicorn even. It doesn't have to make sense as long as you have fun. I'm sure the chefs who made the burgers below had loads of fun doing it.
You should do the same too, go crazy, get creative, create something unique. Of course, never doubt your own creativity. If someone would eat a pink-bun-burger (I know I won't) I'm sure there are some out there who would love to read what you have to post in what ever flavor or language you post in.
Happy Steeming and continue creating awesome posts!
