10 Things Web Writers Who Can Only Write Generic Content Do

"I can only write the same things as other articles."
"I feel like anyone could write this, not just me."
"I have no strengths to promote to clients."

Are you struggling because you want to graduate from generic, mass-produced writing but don't know how?

If you cannot differentiate yourself from your rivals, you will struggle to land writing jobs. Even the work you have now might be taken over by someone else someday.

Please don't give up by saying, "I don't have the writing skills, so it can't be helped..." If you understand the causes of generic writing, you can break free!

Monokaki University, which has taught writing to over 10,000 students, explains 10 common characteristics of generic writing.

10 Characteristics of Web Writers Who Can Only Write Generic Content

1. Lack of Research

One reason writing ends up being something anyone could write is a lack of research. If you write using only information that can be found with a quick search, you will only produce generic content.

If you have sufficient knowledge about a theme, you can provide new information and unique perspectives. By obtaining information not just from online research, but also from books and interviews, you can write compelling content.

2. Not Knowing the Reader's Interests or Needs

The foundation of writing for Web writers is conveying what readers are interested in or want to know. Do you understand what readers want to know about the theme you are writing on?

Before you start writing, make sure to thoroughly research the reader's needs. This is an essential point for writing content that resonates with readers and keeps them engaged.

3. Thinking You Must Only Convey Useful Information

Useful information is important, but relying solely on it makes writing feel inorganic. Useful information is not the only value of writing. By adding elements like stories and emotions, your writing can become more memorable to readers.

Differentiate your work by adding your own thoughts and interpretations to the theme, providing added value to general information.

4. Aiming to Please Everyone

Writing only things that apply to everyone tends to result in a loss of personality and depth. As a result, the writing becomes generic. Things that apply to everyone don't resonate with anyone's heart. Please write with the intention of addressing just one person.

Furthermore, having your own unique perspective and style can lead to gaining passionate fans.

5. Relying Too Much on Templates

Using templates and common phrases is convenient and efficient, but it has the disadvantage of making the writing monotonous. Be careful not to overuse them.

To achieve originality, use standard templates as a base while conveying things in your own words. This also helps lower the copy-paste rate and results in unique content.

6. Being too conscious of writing templates

Writing templates are essential for creating easy-to-understand content. If you assemble your writing according to long-established templates, anyone can easily write content with a clear flow. However, becoming too fixated on those templates can cause you to lose your creativity.

In some cases, arranging the template to convey information or stories in a new way can lead to writing that leaves a lasting impression.

7. Not putting enough effort into editing

Good writing is thoroughly edited. Do not be satisfied just because you have finished writing; revise and correct your work repeatedly.
There is no need to aim for perfection in the first draft. Aim for high-quality writing by reviewing it multiple times.

8. Using difficult words

Using technical jargon or complex expressions may make your writing look intellectual and professional on the surface. However, using them too much can end up alienating your readers. Strive to choose words that are easy to understand and tailored to your target audience.

If many other rival articles use difficult language, this is your chance to break away from generic writing! You can differentiate yourself simply by expressing things in easy-to-understand language. Expressing the same thing in simple words is actually harder than just using difficult terms. It is a skill required of excellent writers.

9. Tending to use flashy language to create impact

Impact on the reader is important, but that doesn't mean you should use flashy language. Excessively flashy expressions can also be a factor that makes your writing feel shallow.

Information backed by solid research, deep insights, and a flow of writing that pays attention to the smallest details—a "quiet impact"—is also fully valuable. Trust in the power that the content itself possesses.

10. Excessively restricting yourself

Putting the brakes on your expression because of embarrassment or worrying about what others think is one of the reasons you cannot break away from generic writing. It is a waste to hold back your own opinions or methods of expression by thinking, "If I write this, will people think it's strange?"

If you feel your writing is mundane and boring, try expressing your own perspective boldly.

5 Ways Veteran Writers Have Practiced to Break Away from "Generic Writing"

1. Increase the amount you read

There are as many writing styles and ways of expression as there are writers. By exposing yourself to various types of writing, you can increase your repertoire of expressions and improve your own writing ability.

Please also refer to the books recommended by Monokaki University.

2. Get feedback

It is difficult to look at your own writing objectively. By listening to the opinions of others and learning about weaknesses and strengths you couldn't notice on your own, your writing will be further polished.

3. Rewriting many times

Reviewing and revising repeatedly. It is steady work, but without this, the level of perfection in your writing cannot be improved.

4. Writing for different media

Each medium has its own unique style and different regulations. By writing for multiple media, you can learn styles and techniques you didn't know before.

5. Collaborating with other writers

Having the opportunity to read each other's work with experienced writers brings new ideas. Working on a single project with writers from different fields, such as sales writers, SEO writers, and interview writers, also leads to broadening the scope of your writing.

Graduate from generic writing and become a more successful writer

Eliminate the causes of generic writing one by one and become a writer who can write content only you can produce. When you can differentiate yourself from your rivals, job offers will come pouring in one after another.

We at Monokaki University are a writing school specializing in 'Electronic Publishing x SNS x Copywriting.' The writing know-how for electronic publishing, which few people are challenging yet, will also be useful for breaking out of generic writing.

Just participating in our free trial session, which is packed with the latest information such as how to utilize ChatGPT, will give you an edge over your rivals.

Click here for the free trial session↓

Don't forget to follow Mayo-sensei, the president and instructor of Monokaki University, on X (formerly Twitter)! You will acquire writing skills.