Summary: The Art & Business of Online Writing by Nicolas Cole (10 best ideas)

Summary

In this video, the author shares insights from their book *The Art and Business of Online Writing*, discussing strategies for writing online success. Key ideas include prioritizing social platforms over personal blogs, focusing on serving the reader's needs, and building a consistent, antifragile writing habit. The author stresses the importance of public practice, finding your voice through feedback, and committing to writing for at least six months. The video also touches on mastering clickbait headlines, creating engaging, skimmable content, and narrowing your niche for lasting success in the digital writing world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Don't start a blog—focus on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora, or Medium that already have large audiences and offer better distribution.
• 😀 The reader is the main character, not the writer. Your writing should serve the reader's needs, answering their questions or solving their problems.
• 😀 Build an antifragile daily writing habit. Consistency is key, even in the midst of distractions and challenges in the digital age.
• 😀 Don't practice in private—practice in public. Share your writing online to get feedback and engage with others, just like writers in Hemingway's time.
• 😀 You co-create your writing voice with your readers. The voice evolves over time through interaction and feedback, not by self-reflection alone.
• 😀 Write consistently for at least 6 months before deciding whether to continue. Writing online is a long-term journey, not a quick fix.
• 😀 It's only clickbait if you fail to keep your promise. A catchy title is fine, but the content must deliver on that promise for it not to be considered clickbait.
• 😀 In the digital age, readers skim rather than read thoroughly. Make your writing skimmable using formatting techniques like bullet points and subheads.
• 😀 The size of the question dictates the size of the answer. A more specific question leads to better engagement, even though it might limit your reach.
• 😀 The goal is to create a category of one. Successful writers dominate a niche, and readers care more about the niche than the writer themselves.

Q & A

Why does the author recommend not starting a blog if you want to write online?

The author advises against starting a blog because it lacks distribution, meaning that unless you already have an audience, nobody will find your content. Instead, the author suggests using social platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Medium, and Quora, where there are millions of readers already consuming content.

What is the most important lesson the author learned from their time writing on Quora?

The author learned that the reader is the main character, not the writer. Successful writing is about answering the reader's questions or solving their problems, which helps capture and keep their attention.

How does the author define an 'antifragile' writing habit?

An 'antifragile' writing habit is one that remains strong even in a busy, distracted world. The author emphasizes creating a daily writing routine that you can maintain despite distractions, and practicing writing in various environments to build resilience.

What does the author mean by 'practicing in public'?

The author believes that writers should share their work publicly, rather than keeping it to themselves. This practice allows writers to receive feedback, engage with readers, and continuously improve their craft. Platforms like Twitter and Medium provide opportunities for this kind of public practice.

Why does the author suggest that writers co-create their voice with their readers?

The author explains that finding a writing voice is not a solitary, introspective process. Instead, writers co-create their voice with their audience through feedback and engagement. The voice develops as writers learn what resonates with their readers.

How long should a writer consistently write before deciding on their future as a writer?

The author suggests that writers should commit to writing consistently for at least six months before making any decisions about their future. This period allows them to assess what works, improve their skills, and understand if they want to continue or pivot.

What is the difference between clickbait and an engaging title?

Clickbait is a misleading or exaggerated title that does not deliver on its promise. The author clarifies that a title is only clickbait if the content fails to meet the reader’s expectations. If the content provides value and follows through on the promise, it is not clickbait.

Why does the author believe that readers in the digital age tend to skim rather than fully read?

The author argues that due to the overwhelming amount of content online, readers tend to skim headlines, intros, and sections to quickly determine if a piece is worth their time. Writers should structure their content to be easily skimmable, using techniques like bolding, subheads, and bullet points.

What is the relationship between the size of a question and the size of its answer?

The author explains that broader questions tend to attract a larger audience but lead to more surface-level engagement. More specific questions result in a smaller but more engaged audience, allowing the writer to address the audience's needs more effectively.

Why does the author recommend focusing on a niche rather than writing about everything?

The author advises focusing on a niche because it helps writers become known for a specific area, which leads to greater success. Writers who dominate a niche cater directly to the needs of their audience, whereas those who try to write about everything risk losing focus and diluting their impact.