Breaking Down "The Purple Skeleton"

In May, several of my articles earned less than a dollar, with "Is There a Purple Skeleton Hiding in Your Mind?" being the lowest at just one cent. So, what went amiss? Let’s analyze my errors regarding "The Purple Skeleton."

1. The Headline

The headline fell flat. I’m not particularly skilled at crafting headlines, but I do understand that their effectiveness hinges on the emotions they evoke in readers. I wouldn’t be inclined to read a piece titled "There’s a Purple Skeleton in My Mind." In hindsight, “skeleton” seemed like a benign term, but did it evoke thoughts of death? Perhaps it was overly morbid.

When creating a headline, it’s crucial to consider the emotions it might stir in your audience. Not sure how to gauge that? It’s perfectly acceptable! I sometimes copy my headline and paste it into a tool like Gemini to get feedback. It can analyze and compare multiple headline options, providing insight into their potential impact on readers. Had I chosen a more suitable title, my story might have performed better.

2. The Image

This ties back to my earlier point. I initially thought the accompanying image was darkly charming, but now it appears more unsettling. The size also feels off. I tend to struggle with selecting images, perhaps because I’m one of those individuals who often overlooks visuals while reading.

In the upcoming months, I plan to brainstorm ideas to improve my image selection process.

3. Imitating Another Writer's Style

What happens when you attempt to emulate someone else's writing style? Typically, it doesn’t end well. I fell into this trap after discovering a new writer whose style I found appealing, so I mimicked their approach in my own writing. Unfortunately, it felt forced and unnatural. Moving forward, I’ll focus on my unique voice, even if it’s still a work in progress.

4. Overuse of Analogies

Who else enjoys analogies? I certainly do! I love incorporating quotes, proverbs, and anecdotes into my writing. However, I have a tendency to meander between points (which I’ve linked below). In this instance, I attempted to weave too many analogies, resulting in a convoluted headline and image.

The post could have been more effective if I had simply stated: "Fear restricts our creativity, but creativity is like a door we can unlock by overcoming our fears. It’s also like a muscle that requires regular exercise." See how straightforward it can be? Instead, I buried the main message beneath excessive analogies.

While analogies can enhance writing, they can also obscure the main point if overused. As writers, we all have our quirks. While these traits can make our work distinctive, they can also become problematic when taken too far, as was the case here.

The lesson I’m taking away is one of balance and sacrifice—sacrificing my favorite elements to create harmony in my writing.