I don’t know about you, but if I see one more generic article with parenting advice that tells me to “connect more with my kid” or “reduce screen time,” I might scream. When I’m feeling like a bit of a failure as a parent, I often descend into a Googling black hole trying to find that magic solution for success, only to re-emerge as despondent as ever, overrun by the homogenous tips that seem to run together in a single strand of blandness. One day, when I was feeling especially low, almost as if by magic, I found this article.The heavens seemed to open and I was ensconced in the bright light that came with actual strategies and personal stories. And it was this great article that cut through the fog and funk of my own personal content fatigue. It was a truly glorious moment. I stand before you today, a changed parent.
If your social feed is any indication, content fatigue is alive and well. Without devolving into a doom-and-gloom attitude, it’s important to recognize that readers are tired, they’re inundated and they feel exhausted from being consistently bombarded with more and more content. So, should writers just throw up their hands and succumb to the well-worn world of content saturation? As readers, maybe we say yes. As writers, our challenge is different and I say nah, instead let’s focus on qualitative and authentic content.
What is content fatigue?
We’ve all felt it at one time or another. With so many channels, touchpoints, articles and social media feeds, it’s easy to succumb to content fatigue. Content fatigue is the condition that plagues readers when they feel overwhelmed and worn down by too much content. It’s the result of the death scroll and the doom surfing. Often content fatigue stems from an inability to find valuable content amongst the noise. As a result, we feel tired and inundated.
We see this occur frequently with the news cycle. Operating on a 24/7 round-robin turntable of more and more “breaking news!,” readers sometimes feel mental exhaustion from the constant processing of the next event. Personally, there are days when I can’t stomach any more negative news and avoid the news cycle and social media altogether. Despite the disheartening, I have to remind myself that it’s important for writers to lead the charge of combatting content fatigue.
A few content fatigue statistics
- Screen attention spans have dropped from 150 seconds in 2004 to 47 seconds now (LinkedIn article)
- Nearly eight out of 10 (78%) prefer fewer, more relevant messages (Optimove)
- On average, people spend 4 1/2 hours a day on a smartphone (Exploding Topics)
- Most people spend an average of 2 hours and 21 minutes on social media each day (Smart Insights Digital Marketing)
What is authentic writing?
Authentic writing is magnetic—it’s the kind that draws you in and keeps you hooked from start to finish. Depending on your topic of choice, this is sometimes easier said and a little more difficult to do. Beyond the allure, authentic writing involves using your individual voice to lead readers through a topic. More importantly, authentic content satisfies the reader’s need for information while keeping them engaged. Personally, it’s more than frustrating when I search for a how-to article, only to be delivered generic tips that are repeated over and over for the sake of search rankings. I want real, truly helpful content. You know? The authentic kind.
Check out our article to learn more about the specifics of structuring your writing for authenticity.
Creating content for authenticity
As a writer, I mostly believe that my writing is authentic, but sometimes I can feel my content turning stale and I have to take a step back and infuse the paragraphs with something a little more vivid and real. To do that, I use a few techniques to liven things up when I see an excess of monotony. Here are some things to consider.
Storytelling
Storytelling is a great way to connect with your audience. Think of your favorite movie or book and how emotional you can get when drawn into the storyline. The same can be said for storytelling in writing even when your sole purpose isn’t, in fact, to tell a story. Readers love to develop a connection with content and that can be done with a great story even if it’s just one that bridges the gap to your larger point. Here are some strategies to think about when using storytelling in your writing.
- Keep it confined to the relevant parts: Unless you’re writing a novel, your story needs to be concise and relevant. Stick to your point to avoid losing the reader in sidebars, tangents and runaway trains of thought. Provide the most pertinent aspects and draw the connection from one idea to another so that you have one comprehensive piece of content. Lead the reader to your point using your story as the hook.
- Use personal details, when possible: Help the reader find common ground with you as a writer. Use details to show how you personally connect to the story to enhance its value. Writing in the first person and sharing your most vivid recollections can help. I used the example of parenting because I am currently writing to you from the trenches and, I gotta tell you–parenting in today’s world is beautiful, but certainly tough.
- Offer a problem and a solution: It’s nice to end on a positive note or at least a place where your reader doesn’t feel as if there’s nothing that comes next. People love a conflict and seeing how it reaches a resolution. Make sure to provide the struggle and the ending. I’ll report back with my successful resolution after we’ve patiently navigated the teen years. Send positive thoughts (and some survivalist gear).
- Create the connection: Make sure that you are able to connect your story to the larger theme of your piece. Lead the reader to a conclusion based upon your story. For example, you could include a personal anecdote about a time you failed at writing to show the value of doing writing exercises to achieve your goals. That connection helps readers see your theme while connecting it to its value. I’m hoping you’ll see how highlighting my parenting challenges makes me better at life–I mean writing. Writing is what I meant.
Personality
Our personalities are made up of the many unique moments we face in our lives, with family, friends, loved ones, enemies, mentors and all the other people who cross our paths. Similar to our fingerprints and our voice patterns, no two are the same. We learn from each other’s experiences and authentic writing comes from letting your personality shine in your writing. Try these strategies.
- Infuse your speech patterns into your writing: Ok, let’s be real. No one wants to read a blog with 20 “likes” and a fair assortment of “ums.” But, using your speech patterns can help showcase your personality. Let it resonate as part of the piece.
- Tie your thoughts and emotions into your writing: How did a situation make you feel and what did it lead you to think about? Connect your thoughts for the reader and provide your perspective using descriptive feelings and thoughts. I could tell you that despite my parenting challenges, I would not change these feral little creatures for all the money in the world.
- Read your writing out loud: Before sending off to the land of readership, read it to yourself out loud. This will help you identify glaring points where your personality and your writing take separate paths in the road. Warning: May cause cringe.
Vulnerability
Ok this is tough, and admittedly, I’m not great with it also. But authenticity comes from the real, visceral moments in our lives—the heartbreaks and the hard-fought wins. Using those vulnerable moments to highlight points helps readers empathize with your content and see a human perspective rather than consuming content that lacks emotion.
I once wrote an article about things I would tell my younger self, if I could go back in time. Now this post dates back to the long-gone world of 2018 (yes, I’ve been in the writing game for a fair bit of time) and it was one of the more difficult pieces I’ve written. Mostly, I knew that it opened me up to criticism and it encompassed experiences that were deeply personal. Plus, at its core, it was a piece about how I was afraid to be myself when I was younger because I feared the judgement of others. In truth, I received so much positive feedback after that article that I learned the beautiful growth that can happen when I weave a little vulnerability into my writing.
More content authenticity tips
Quality over quantity: Yes, the internet is a fast-moving conglomeration of constant releases, but the real way to maintain authenticity is to go for quality over quantity. Provide well-researched quality content and try to release content less frequently to give yourself time to generate more valuable content. Here are some other tips.
- Say something new: Not an easy feat, to be sure, but saying something new has a lot of power. Offering something that hasn’t already been put forth can lend a whole new slant to a discussion and shine new light on almost any topic.
- Meet a need: Now, I have topics I am passionate about, but sometimes my churning thoughts don’t result in much help to others. Sure, I want to talk about that minor in Greek mythology I got as an undergrad and how it’s so fun to talk about the gods of old, but I don’t have much new to say on the topic. Make sure that you are somehow meeting the needs of your readers, whether it’s through new research or a fresh set of eyes.
- Take reader feedback: There’s a difference between responding to trolls and taking reader feedback. Sometimes, readers can offer a fresh perspective or an angle that you haven’t thought about which can help to generate new interest and discussions.
The path forward
In a world of constant bombardment, authentic content is your competitive advantage. By embracing storytelling, letting your personality shine, showing vulnerability, and prioritizing quality over quantity, you create content that cuts through the noise instead of adding to it.
Your readers aren't looking for more content—they're looking for content that matters. Write authentically, and you'll build genuine connections with readers who keep coming back.
If you're creating authentic content but struggling to reach the right professional audience, the Newstex Publisher Network might be your solution.
About the author,
Ashley Watters
