Understanding the Difference: Writing within an App vs. a Note app

Last updated Oct 23, 2024

The difference between writing within the app you publish, let’s say, Twitter, LinkedIn, or the newsletter in Substack, Medium, Email, etc., and writing it in Obsidian or a note app can make a big difference, but for different reasons.

When writing within the app, this can elevate the thoughts, as you have the pressure as it will go live. It feels more real when you write in an email as you were to write to a friend as if you were just journaling in your note app. That’s why hey.com created the HEY World, a newsletter that you write the same as an email. No friction.

The friction is a big one, as I write all my notes in Obsidian. I wanted a solution to publish as much fiction as possible. Otherwise, I wouldn’t do it. I found it by simply adding #publish to this note and making this note online on my website that you are reading. No formatting is needed, no tinkering with links, nothing. It’s all written in Obsidian in Markdown (that’s the key).

However, I wanted to make the point that the downside of writing in the note app is that you don’t feel the pressure or the connectedness with your audience. But what you have from connected notes is sparkling ideas and related terms that can benefit your writing/thoughts big times. Significantly the longer you use such a system. That’s why the hype around Second Brain, although sometimes tried to diminish, is real. It has real benefits; one is writing, but there are many more.

So, when it comes to your writing, choose your method wisely. Consider what you want to achieve and how you work best. This decision can significantly impact your writing process. See also Digital vs Paper for more insights.

Origin: Simon Späti: “@jayatid Yeah, it’s like a scr…” - Mastodon
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Created 2024-10-23