5 ms·

I was going to suggest writing, and I'll go one further: Do write a blog, but don't just write a blog. Write a blog, and then create a video for each blog post

by bckr 5y ago

I was going to suggest writing, and I'll go one further: Do write a blog, but don't just write a blog. Write a blog, and then create a video for each blog post, and upload it to YouTube (where the eyeballs willing to consume intellectual material are). Also do livestreams. Start interviewing anyone who will take you seriously. Set a goal for who your dream interviewee is. Do this for a couple years, putting out content every week, and then glue & edit all that stuff down into a book that says something interesting, useful, and at least somewhat new. Publish that book. Get interviewed yourself by other people. Being a writer is not cliche. There's an enormous world there and a career you can build, and I think it's a very good idea to pursue that, so that you can get paid for pursuing your curiosity. In 10 years or so, if you keep at it, you could be doing very well for yourself and have "built" some things you're really proud of.

samh748 5y ago
Another question, if you don't mind: What sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.
- bckr 5y ago
  "A beginner's guide to..." is always a great format. "Book reports" are better when they're not simply notes/summaries but engage the content from your point of view as a reader and go a bit deeper into the subject matter. Most important: Just start putting your writing out there and getting feedback. Also study and imitate the styles of writers you appreciate. You'll probably suck for a few years. Keep going.
  - samh748 5y ago
    That's really great advice. I especially like your point on going beyond basic notes/summaries. Thanks again!! :)
Phileosopher 5y ago
I most certainly agree that writing isn't cliche, but the exceedingly low barrier to entry makes it hard to distinguish yourself from the crowd of untalented hacks who want to squeeze money out. More what I'm saying is that the environment requires shedloads of marketing acumen. Not that that's impossible to learn, but it means you're either getting someone to sell it for you (i.e., a publisher) or have to do a lot of work you probably don't love (i.e., not writing). Or you could be like me and make stuff for fun, and never expect to get paid for it!
- bckr 5y ago
  I think what you're saying is probably right, but I also think there's a big overlap between being a great writer and being a great marketer. There's bonus value in getting paid because it's a relatively simple metric for "how good of a writer am I".
samh748 5y ago
How did you read my mind? I've thought of most of these things and thought I was completely crazy dreaming. I absolutely want to interview people, dig their brains, hear their stories, etc.! This reminds me of how I used to go to my profs office hours because I just loved hearing them talk passionately about their subjects. A question, livestream of what?
- bckr 5y ago
  Dig into intellectual / political Twitch. One guy I've paid attention to is Hal Sparks, a comedian/TV personality turned webby political analyst. He just reads a bunch of stuff and then does a livestream talking about current events and connecting them with what he's read (plus jokes). There's also a lot of reacting to YouTubers' video essays and the news. Bullet points for livestreaming subject matter: * Reacting to the news. * Reacting to YouTubers / web content. * Q&A sessions (this is key--the strength of livestreaming is audience interactivity, and that audience will be fiercely loyal). * Spitballing -- You can give a rough version of a presentation you might give in a video. * Live writing / creating -- This sounds crazy, but people actually watch people write code, create music etc. Additional considerations: * Create a ritual that people show up for. Livestreaming and video audiences love rhythm. * You don't have to be that entertaining -- people often turn to Twitch/YouTube to fill a similar need in their life that they use podcasts for -- background noise / a distraction where they can feel like they're in the room with a public figure / community.
  - samh748 5y ago
    Thanks so much for all these! So eye-opening!
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
sideshowb 5y ago
> YouTube (where the eyeballs willing to consume intellectual material are). Whyyyyyyyyy?! Seriously I'm curious, what happened? Do intellectuals (whatever that means) really not prefer reading any more? A desire for Podcasts/audiobooks I can understand, as someone who occasionally has to drive places, but video?
- danuker 5y ago
  The problem with text as far as I see is discoverability. Google promotes YouTube videos, but the text sites I've seen ranked are just garbage like "7 ways to clean your sink". And video is a more addictive medium.
  - eimrine 5y ago
    If you are doing some researches, Google almost never is your friend. Alphabet/Google/Youtube are not interested in moving science forward, their work is to pump your attention with their ads. Your friends are: torrents which are storing some books, sci-hub for free access to whitepapers, github for having some free software. So sorry that free access to whitepapers is less legal than advertisement of some scams like some kind of "investments". > And video is a more addictive medium. IMHO it is not about video but about smartphones. They are too optimized for consuming ads instead of sciences. For example, it is way more handy to watch videos while constantly being interrupted by social networks than to silent reading if you are already taking a smartphone in your hands.
- bckr 5y ago
  I think "intellectuals" are willing to read books. I think videos are the best way to consume content in ~20 minutes.
  - sideshowb 5y ago
    But isn't reading a preferable way to consume the same content in ~2 minutes?
    - 5y ago
smeej 5y ago
This is a great reminder, because there are LOTS of people doing this successfully, and in all likelihood, nothing separates them from you except that they've started and you haven't. Is it possible they're more capable/interesting/competent than you are? Sure, but in all likelihood, it's actually just the discipline to keep doing it and iterating to make it better that separates you.

by bckr 5y ago

samh748 5y ago

Another question, if you don't mind: What sort of things do you think I could write as a novice in these fields?? I don't think I'm interested in writing study notes or summaries etc. I think I'm more inquiry-inclined, something more critical, more engaged.

bckr 5y ago
"A beginner's guide to..." is always a great format. "Book reports" are better when they're not simply notes/summaries but engage the content from your point of view as a reader and go a bit deeper into the subject matter. Most important: Just start putting your writing out there and getting feedback. Also study and imitate the styles of writers you appreciate. You'll probably suck for a few years. Keep going.
- samh748 5y ago
  That's really great advice. I especially like your point on going beyond basic notes/summaries. Thanks again!! :)

Phileosopher 5y ago

I most certainly agree that writing isn't cliche, but the exceedingly low barrier to entry makes it hard to distinguish yourself from the crowd of untalented hacks who want to squeeze money out. More what I'm saying is that the environment requires shedloads of marketing acumen. Not that that's impossible to learn, but it means you're either getting someone to sell it for you (i.e., a publisher) or have to do a lot of work you probably don't love (i.e., not writing). Or you could be like me and make stuff for fun, and never expect to get paid for it!

bckr 5y ago
I think what you're saying is probably right, but I also think there's a big overlap between being a great writer and being a great marketer. There's bonus value in getting paid because it's a relatively simple metric for "how good of a writer am I".

samh748 5y ago

How did you read my mind? I've thought of most of these things and thought I was completely crazy dreaming. I absolutely want to interview people, dig their brains, hear their stories, etc.! This reminds me of how I used to go to my profs office hours because I just loved hearing them talk passionately about their subjects. A question, livestream of what?

bckr 5y ago
Dig into intellectual / political Twitch. One guy I've paid attention to is Hal Sparks, a comedian/TV personality turned webby political analyst. He just reads a bunch of stuff and then does a livestream talking about current events and connecting them with what he's read (plus jokes). There's also a lot of reacting to YouTubers' video essays and the news. Bullet points for livestreaming subject matter: * Reacting to the news. * Reacting to YouTubers / web content. * Q&A sessions (this is key--the strength of livestreaming is audience interactivity, and that audience will be fiercely loyal). * Spitballing -- You can give a rough version of a presentation you might give in a video. * Live writing / creating -- This sounds crazy, but people actually watch people write code, create music etc. Additional considerations: * Create a ritual that people show up for. Livestreaming and video audiences love rhythm. * You don't have to be that entertaining -- people often turn to Twitch/YouTube to fill a similar need in their life that they use podcasts for -- background noise / a distraction where they can feel like they're in the room with a public figure / community.
- samh748 5y ago
  Thanks so much for all these! So eye-opening!

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

sideshowb 5y ago

> YouTube (where the eyeballs willing to consume intellectual material are). Whyyyyyyyyy?! Seriously I'm curious, what happened? Do intellectuals (whatever that means) really not prefer reading any more? A desire for Podcasts/audiobooks I can understand, as someone who occasionally has to drive places, but video?

danuker 5y ago
The problem with text as far as I see is discoverability. Google promotes YouTube videos, but the text sites I've seen ranked are just garbage like "7 ways to clean your sink". And video is a more addictive medium.
- eimrine 5y ago
  If you are doing some researches, Google almost never is your friend. Alphabet/Google/Youtube are not interested in moving science forward, their work is to pump your attention with their ads. Your friends are: torrents which are storing some books, sci-hub for free access to whitepapers, github for having some free software. So sorry that free access to whitepapers is less legal than advertisement of some scams like some kind of "investments". > And video is a more addictive medium. IMHO it is not about video but about smartphones. They are too optimized for consuming ads instead of sciences. For example, it is way more handy to watch videos while constantly being interrupted by social networks than to silent reading if you are already taking a smartphone in your hands.
bckr 5y ago
I think "intellectuals" are willing to read books. I think videos are the best way to consume content in ~20 minutes.
- sideshowb 5y ago
  But isn't reading a preferable way to consume the same content in ~2 minutes?
  - 5y ago

smeej 5y ago

This is a great reminder, because there are LOTS of people doing this successfully, and in all likelihood, nothing separates them from you except that they've started and you haven't. Is it possible they're more capable/interesting/competent than you are? Sure, but in all likelihood, it's actually just the discipline to keep doing it and iterating to make it better that separates you.