How to Write and Monetize Long-Form Content on X

You’ve mastered the art of 280-character posting — now level up with X Articles, where your ideas get room to breathe and truly shine. We’ve recently expanded access to all Premium subscribers, enabling even more voices to publish rich, formatted long-form content on X. This is your ultimate guide to writing impactful Articles, growing your audience, and monetizing your craft. ## Writing a great Article: 1. Start with a clear purpose Before you write a single sentence, answer: • What do I want the reader to think, feel, or do after reading this? • Who is this actually for? A strong purpose keeps you focused and will help the words flow easily. 2. Nail the title (and hook) Great titles are specific, spark curiosity, and promise value. Pair that with a strong first sentence to hook the reader and ease them into your story. Bad: “Tips for Better Productivity in 2026” Good: “Why 95% of Productivity Advice Fails” Your header image also plays a key role in enticing the reader to open your Article. Make sure it’s visually appealing and relevant to the topic of your content. 3. Structure for skimmability People skim before they read, especially on mobile where most users access X. Make it impossible to miss the value: • Use short paragraphs (2-4 lines max) • Include subheadings every 3-5 paragraphs • Bullets and numbered lists > walls of text • Bold the key insight in almost every section • Stick to one idea per paragraph 4. Develop a natural, recognizable voice Whether analytical, spicy, or conversational, consistency in tone helps readers feel like they know you when they come back. The moment writing becomes too “professional” it usually becomes boring. Write like you’re talking to a good friend, not a lecture hall. Use “you,” “your,” and other conversational language. Bad: “Successful people always prioritize their tasks.” Good: “You need to stop doing everything — focus on the 3 things that actually move the needle.” 5. Show, don’t just tell Facts and data are great, but stories and examples make them stick. For any claim you make, follow it immediately with evidence of why it’s true (stats, personal story, before/after, etc.). You can even embed your own X posts or Articles as living examples. 6. Edit ruthlessly The first draft is for you. The second (and third) draft is for the reader. After writing: • Cut 20-30% of the word count • Remove filler phrases like “very,” “really,” or “in order to” • Read the whole thing out loud — awkward sentences will jump out 7. Add visuals and formatting Images, screenshots, charts, or even embedded X posts help break up text and make your Article more shareable. Well-formatted Articles with bold headers, spacing, and images get way more engagement. 8. End with a strong close Don’t just fade out — close with energy and give the reader a takeaway or call to action. • Summarize the key points • Ask a question to spark replies • Encourage them to share or try one tip right now ## Growing your audience: Tease before you publish Post a short teaser or question a few hours before publishing to build anticipation. Pin new Articles to your profile Especially during the first 24-72 hours to maximize discovery. Break Articles into post threads Share key excerpts as posts that link back to the full piece. Reply to early readers Engaging in the first wave of replies boosts visibility and signals momentum. Reshare older Articles when relevant Evergreen content can perform multiple times if reintroduced during relevant news cycles. ## Monetizing your Articles with Subscriptions: Subscriber-only Articles are a great way to monetize long-form content on X and earn recurring income from your most loyal followers. Here are some tips for Subscriber-only Articles: Clearly communicate subscriber value Tell readers what additional content they can get by subscribing to you: deep dives, early access, exclusive opinions, behind-the-scenes, or regular series. Use soft paywalls strategically Offer some free Articles to attract new readers, and reserve premium depth for your paying subscribers. Create subscriber-only formats Examples: weekly memo, industry brief, portfolio updates, Q&A, or private breakdowns. Thank subscribers publicly Occasional callouts build social proof and encourage others to join. Preview what’s coming next End Articles with a short “Next week:” to reinforce habit and retention. How to Post Subscriber-only Articles After you’ve finished writing your Article, click “Publish”, and then select “Subscribers” under “Choose your audience”. Then click Publish again to post your Subscriber-only Article. Don’t forget to promote the Article to your non-Subscribers to drive more subscriptions. Simply post a teaser of the Article on your post and link to your Subscription paywall. You can link your Subscriptions paywall by adding the following link on your post: https://x.com/YOURUSERNAME/creator-subscriptions/subscribe. We are working to provide more effective ways for Creators to promote their Subscriber-only content. Stay tuned for more to come soon. Check your eligibility for Subscriptions by navigating to Creator Studio. Whether you're a journalist, thought leader, creator, or just have big ideas to share, X Articles give your thoughts the space they deserve — deeper dives, richer formatting, and real connection with your audience. We’re excited to see what you’ll create, and we always welcome feedback on how to improve long-form writing on X. See here for instructions on how to compose Articles. 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