Benefits of Digital Writing
Dickie Bush and Nicholas Cole in their “How To Start Writing Online” identify several framework of becoming a successful digital writer. For those who want to start writing online this is a very valuable resource.
The first framework is about adopting the mindset of a digital writer.
The way to become a digital writer is writing more. Don’t let perfectionism hinder you; write a lot because progress is more important than perfection.
Writing online is a business and should be treated as such. By writing frequently many pieces you’ll generate data which will help you identify the signal — what your readers are looking for, which piece of information interests them, and which falls off. Then you want to focus on what is working. As Bush and Cole put it, “make noise, listen for signal”.
The authors show five benefits of becoming an online writer:
- Getting feedback fast. Unlike creators of the previous times, digital writers get instant feedback on their work. They know what works and what doesn’t.
- Audience building. You will be building your audience as you explore and write down your ideas. This is what they call “practicing in public”. Digital writers answer questions on Quora, tweet on Twitter, write articles on Medium and Substack. All of these pieces then can become books or parts of books or long-form blog posts.
- Clarifying your thoughts. By writing online you know better what resonates with your readers which will guide you on double-down on what is working for you.
- Creating a library of content. This one should be self-explanatory. Writing online helps you build a library of content that can stand the test of time.
- Scaling yourself. You probably talked about who you are, your past, your experiences, your goals to your friends on many occasions. Writing online is a way to scale it up. You’ll be expressing what is in your mind to a larger audience.
