How to Write a Medium Article with AI

Everyone’s talking about building an audience on Medium.

But staring at that blank page?

Phew. Sounds like a nightmare.

You know you should be writing articles to share your expertise. But when you sit down to write, your mind goes blank. The cursor keeps blinking, mocking you.

Sound familiar?

With AI as your writing partner, you don’t have to face that blank page alone anymore.

As you know, Medium banned AI writing. But this article will actually show you how to write human-like articles that you can publish on Medium and that have been written by AI.

Let’s explore how to create engaging Medium articles that actually get read – without spending hours staring at your screen.

Why Medium Articles Are an Opportunity

Medium isn’t just another blogging platform. It’s a place where expertise is valued and rewarded.

Unlike posting on your own blog where you’re fighting for attention, Medium brings the readers to you. Their algorithm actively promotes quality content to interested readers.

Plus, Medium’s Partner Program means you can actually make money from your articles. While most people won’t get rich from Medium alone, it’s a powerful platform for:

Building your authority in your field
Growing an email list of engaged followers
Testing ideas for your courses or books
Creating a portfolio of your expertise
Earning some extra income from your knowledge

The best part? You don’t need any technical skills. No website setup, no design work, no SEO optimization. Just your ideas and a way to express them clearly.

How AI Can Help You Write Medium Articles

Let’s be honest: Writing is hard. Even experienced writers sometimes struggle to turn their thoughts into clear, engaging articles.

This is where AI becomes your secret weapon.

Think of AI as your personal writing assistant that helps you:

Turn rough ideas into structured outlines
Generate multiple headline options
Expand your key points with examples
Find relevant statistics and research
Polish your writing for clarity and flow

But here’s what most people get wrong about AI writing: They expect it to do everything.

The truth? AI isn’t meant to replace your expertise or voice. It’s meant to amplify them.

You’re still the expert. You still know your stuff. AI just helps you communicate that expertise more effectively.

Who is this for? Anyone who:

Has valuable knowledge to share
Struggles to organize their thoughts
Gets stuck with writer’s block
Wants to write more efficiently
Needs help polishing their writing

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use AI for writing. If you can type in a prompt and click a button, you’re good to go.

PERFECTIONIST INSIDER TIP:
Your readers don’t care if you used AI to help write your article. What they care about is whether your content solves their problems or teaches them something valuable.

What Makes a Good Medium Article (The Anatomy)

Here’s what most writers get wrong on Medium: They start with what they want to say instead of what their readers need to hear.

Your article needs to grab attention in the first few seconds. And the best way to do that? Talk about a problem your readers are facing or an outcome they desperately want.

Let’s break down the essential elements:

The Headline (Your First Impression) Your headline is the difference between 100 views and 10,000 views. On Medium, you need to master two types of headlines:

The Title: Your main headline needs to promise value while triggering curiosity.

Here are some viral Medium headlines that crushed it:

“I Learned More From a 30-Day Coding Challenge Than 4 Years of College”
“How I Made $10,000 Last Month Writing on Medium”
“The Morning Routine That Successful People Don’t Want You to Know About”
“Why Smart People Don’t Try to Be Happy”
“5 Uncomfortable Truths About Success Nobody Wants to Hear”

Notice the patterns? These headlines:

Use numbers when possible
Make bold claims
Challenge common beliefs
Promise insider knowledge
Create curiosity gaps

The Subtitle: This is your chance to elaborate. Medium gives you extra space under your main title – use it! Your subtitle should explain exactly what readers will get.

PERFECTIONIST INSIDER TIP: Write at least 10 headline options before choosing one. Your first idea is rarely your best.

The Hook (First 3 Paragraphs)
Your opening needs to make readers think “This is exactly what I’m struggling with!” or “Yes! I need to know this!”

Short paragraphs.
Conversational tone.
A clear promise of value.

The Structure
Medium readers love clear, scannable content. That means:

Clear subheadings that tell a story
Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
Strategic use of bold text for emphasis
Plenty of white space
Stories and examples that illustrate your points

The Format
Medium has specific features that boost engagement:

A compelling featured image
Smart use of formatting (like this and this)
Pull quotes for important insights
Relevant tags to help readers find your work
A clear call-to-action at the end

But here’s the most important part: Every successful Medium article focuses on ONE main idea.

Finding Your Article’s Main Idea

Your article needs one central message. Not two. Not five. One.

This is where many writers (and AI users) go wrong. They try to cram everything they know into a single article.

Here’s how to find your main idea:

Ask yourself:

What ONE thing do I want readers to understand?
What ONE action do I want them to take?
What ONE problem am I solving?

For market research, use this prompt in Perplexity:

"What are people struggling with when it comes to [your topic]? Show me recent forum discussions and social media posts about this."

This helps you find real problems people are actively discussing, not just what you think they might want to know.

Best AI Tools to Use for Medium Articles

Writing on Medium isn’t just about having good ideas – it’s about presenting them in a way that hooks readers and keeps them scrolling. Here’s where AI becomes your secret weapon.

Let me show you the best tools and how to use them:

Claude or ChatGPT: Your Writing Partners
These are your go-to tools for the actual writing process. But here’s how to use them effectively:

Always specify your target audience (e.g., “Write this for entrepreneurs over 40 who want to start their first online business”)
Feed them with examples of articles you love
Ask them to mimic specific writing styles you admire

Perplexity, DeepSeek, or ChatGPT with Search: Your Research Assistants
The key to standing out on Medium is backing up your points with fresh data and examples. These tools help you:

Find recent statistics and studies
Discover real-world examples
Verify your facts and claims
See your sources (crucial for credibility)

PERFECTIONIST INSIDER TIP:
Don’t just ask AI to “write an article.” Instead, work with it section by section. This gives you more control over the tone and flow.

Here’s a killer prompt template for AI:

Write a [section type] about [topic] for [target audience].
Style: Conversational, like talking to a friend
Tone: [Authoritative/Friendly/Educational]
Must include:
- Real examples
- Specific details
- Action steps
Avoid:
- Fluff
- Generic advice
- Corporate language

Create Your First Draft with AI

Here’s the truth most AI experts won’t tell you: Your first draft will be garbage. And that’s perfectly fine.

The goal isn’t perfection – it’s getting your ideas out of your head and onto the page. AI just helps you do this faster.

Let’s break down the drafting process:

Step 1: Create Your Outline
Use this prompt:

Create a detailed outline for a Medium article about [your topic].
Target audience: [be specific]
Main goal: [what should readers learn/do]
Must include:
- Key sections
- Main points for each section
- Potential examples or stories

Step 2: Generate Your First Draft
For each section of your outline, use this prompt:

Write the [section name] of my Medium article.
Context: [brief background]
Style: Conversational and engaging
Include:
- Personal insights or examples
- Practical tips
- Transition to the next section
Length: 200-300 words

Step 3: Add Your Human Touch
This is crucial. AI gives you the structure, but you need to:

Add your personal experiences
Include your unique insights
Insert your actual examples
Adjust the tone to match your voice

TIP:
Don’t try to edit while you write. Let your first draft be messy. You can clean it up later.

Common First Draft Mistakes:

Trying to make it perfect
Editing as you go
Getting stuck on one section
Not including enough personal examples

The first draft is just you telling yourself the story. The real magic happens in the editing.

Review, Edit, Refine: Make Your Article Shine

Let’s turn that rough AI draft into something your readers will actually love (and share).

Here’s my battle-tested editing process:

Step 1: Let It Breathe
Step away from your draft for at least 24 hours. When you come back, you’ll spot problems you didn’t see before.

Step 2: The First Pass (Structure)
Check these elements:

Does each section flow naturally into the next?
Is there a clear progression of ideas?
Are you staying focused on your ONE main message?
Do your examples actually support your points?

Step 3: The Second Pass (Engagement)
Look for opportunities to:

Add more personal stories
Include specific examples
Break up long paragraphs
Insert pull quotes for key insights
Add subheadings for better scanning

Step 4: The Final Polish
This is where you make your article distinctly yours:

Read it out loud (catch awkward phrases)
Remove any AI-sounding language
Add your personality
Check all facts and claims
Format for Medium (headers, bold text, etc.)

Use this AI prompt for a final check:

Review this article for:
- Clarity of message
- Engagement factors
- Missing examples
- Areas that need more detail
Suggest specific improvements.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Let me share the three biggest problems you’ll face when writing Medium articles with AI – and exactly how to fix them.

AI Sounds Too Generic (And How to Fix It)

You’ve probably noticed – AI loves to use phrases like “in today’s fast-paced world” or “as we all know.”

Here’s the fix:

Delete the first two paragraphs of any AI output (they’re usually fluff)
Replace generic examples with specific stories from your experience
Add concrete numbers and details
Read your article out loud – if it sounds like a robot, rewrite it

The Article Lacks Flow (And How to Fix It)

AI can give you great sections, but sometimes they feel disconnected.

The solution:

Add transition sentences between sections
Use stories that continue throughout the article
Reference earlier points in later sections
End each section with a hook for the next one

The Content Feels Shallow (And How to Fix It)

AI sometimes gives you surface-level advice that everyone already knows.

Here’s how to add depth:

Include specific examples from your experience
Add data points from your research
Share what didn’t work (not just what did)
Include unexpected insights or counterintuitive ideas

PERFECTIONIST INSIDER TIP:
Keep a swipe file of your favorite Medium articles. Study how they transition between ideas, use examples, and keep readers engaged.

Conclusion

Here’s the most important thing about writing on Medium with AI: Choose the approach that feels most natural to you.

Don’t force yourself into a writing style that feels uncomfortable. The best articles come from being genuine, even if you’re using AI to help structure and polish your thoughts.

Your readers aren’t buying your perfect grammar or flawless structure. They’re buying your insights, your experiences, and your unique perspective.

Some of the most successful Medium articles aren’t perfectly polished – they’re just genuinely helpful and interesting.