Glenn Stovall's Public Notebook

Digital Writing

The style of writing used online, typically in public places. Examples include blog articles, Twitter threads, communicating in slack, evergreen notes if you're doing the learn in public thing, etc.

Contrast with other forms of writing, digital writing is about frequent publishing (prolific creation), experimentation, and iteration. Write shorter, write quicker. When ideas test well, you can expand upon them.

proven tweets -> short articles -> long articles -> books, courses, etc

Points of view to write articles from

  • Actionable (here’s how)
  • Analytical (here are the numbers)
  • Aspirational (yes, you can)
  • Anthropological (here’s why)

Types of writing pieces

  • Question & Answer
  • How-tos
  • Next Actions
  • Mistakes
  • Lists
  • Resources
  • Sample
  • Philosophical
  • Motivational
  • X vs Y / Comparison
  • Quick tips
  • Case study
  • Quiz
  • Explainer (“in plain English”)
  • Skeptic point of view
  • Contrarian
  • How-NOT-to
  • Interview
  • Personal story

For Twitter threads, itemized lists are easy to write

  • X lessons
  • X mistakes
  • X steps

Credibility

On the internet, no one knows who you are. Ways you can show credibility in your pieces

  • why you are the expert
  • who the expert you're referencing is
  • that this isn't your expertise, but personal experience

If you can't find any credibility at all, should you be writing that piece?

Digital Writing formats

Small

  • Twitter threads
  • Atomic essay (an essay that's ~250 words)
  • LinkedIn post
  • Quora answer

Medium

  • blogchain (series of short essays)
  • blog article
  • newsletter

Large

  • long form essay
  • article / email series
  • mini ebook

X-Large

  • book
  • course

Tags writing