writing tips

Bilingual

You Should Be Writing By Hand
2 months ago
- Writing by hand ensures privacy, as it cannot be easily copied or mined by algorithms.
- Handwriting forces deeper thinking and uses different cognitive 'muscles' than typing.
- A blank page is less intimidating than a blank screen, and rewriting by hand produces solid first drafts.
- You cannot delete mistakes while handwriting, encouraging discipline and visible progress.
- Handwriting is less antisocial than using a laptop and makes others feel listened to.
- Notebooks serve as a defense against accusations of using AI for writing.
- The ritual of handwriting fosters a sense of being a 'real writer' and aids creative practice.
- It's never too late to start; carrying a notebook and writing when drifting or overwhelmed helps clarify thoughts.
- The author's personal experience shows handwriting helped with concentration, recovery from illness, and creative exploration.
Rules for Writing Software Tutorials
2 months ago
- Use clear, outcome-focused titles and introductions that explain the goal for beginners.
- Show the end result early, make code snippets copy/pasteable, and use long command-line flags.
- Separate user-defined values from reusable logic with environment variables or named constants.
- Use unambiguous, real-world example values and avoid jargon to keep tutorials beginner-friendly.
- Minimize dependencies, keep code in a working state, and teach one concept at a time.
- Use consistent, descriptive headings, specify filenames clearly, and demonstrate the solution works.
- Link to a complete example repository, ideally with branches for each tutorial stage.
How to Write Compelling Software Release Announcements
2 months ago
- A release announcement should focus on how the user's experience improves, not just list new features like a changelog.
- Describe changes in terms of user benefits, e.g., 'Create recurring events automatically' instead of 'Added repeat button'.
- Release notes are exhaustive and boring; release announcements should highlight only the most impactful changes.
- Choose features for the announcement based on user impact, not implementation effort.
- Frame improvements positively (e.g., 'faster' instead of 'less slow') and celebrate enhanced user experience.
- Briefly introduce the product near the start for new readers, without alienating existing users.
- Use screenshots with cropping, highlighting, or arrows to make new features obvious.
- Keep animated demos under 5 seconds (max 15) and use modern formats like WebP or embedded video.
- Present performance data with graphs instead of raw numbers to make it clear for users.
- Plan the release announcement during development to ensure the release benefits users, not just developers.
- Avoid vague phrases like 'various improvements and bugfixes'; articulate specific user benefits.
- Real-world examples from Gleam and Figma show effective announcements focused on user empowerment and clear visuals.
Writing, Briefly
2 months ago
- Writing generates ideas, not just communicates them; poor writing skills cause missed ideas.
- Write a fast first draft, then rewrite repeatedly, cutting unnecessary parts.
- Use conversational tone, imitate good writers, and read aloud to find awkward or boring parts.
- Expect 80% of ideas to emerge during writing and 50% of initial ideas to be wrong.
- Get feedback from trusted friends, cut confidently, and avoid detailed outlines.
- Write on topics you like, don't try to impress, and publish online to generate more ideas.
Write Like You Talk
2 months ago
- Write in spoken language to make your writing more readable and engaging.
- Most people use more complex language in writing than in speech, which deters readers.
- Complex sentences and fancy words create a false impression of depth and are harder to read.
- Experts in difficult subjects often speak informally to avoid language barriers.
- Read your draft aloud and fix anything that doesn't sound like conversation.
- If needed, explain your draft to a friend and replace it with your spoken explanation.
- Writing in spoken language puts you ahead of 95% of writers.

writing tips

You Should Be Writing By Hand

Rules for Writing Software Tutorials

How to Write Compelling Software Release Announcements

Writing, Briefly

Write Like You Talk