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Edition #250 – November 28th, 2024
​A newsletter by Anne-Laure Le Cunff​

💌 Why Write Online?

Today marks the 250th edition of the Ness Labs newsletter. Thousands of hours, hundreds of thousands of words… When I started this project as a tiny experiment, I didn’t expect to keep going for so long. And I didn’t expect that it would change my life.

In an age of video reels and generative AI, it may seem like text-based content is dead. But I’m convinced that writing online is still the highest leverage use of your intellectual and creative energy.

To celebrate this big milestone, I’m going to share 25 reasons why you should consider writing online, as well as how I’d create a newsletter if I was getting started today.

The Unparalleled Leverage of Writing Online

Whether you want to explore new topics, build an audience, or just clarify your thoughts, writing remains the simplest yet most impactful way to share ideas online. It’s a flexible medium that offers the space to think, experiment, and connect with others on your own terms. Here are 25 reasons why you should start writing online:

1. Writing is free. No need to buy a camera, build a home studio, or invest in paid software. Just open a new document and start typing your thoughts.

2. Writing is portable creativity. Writing can be done anywhere—on your phone, laptop, or even on paper—making it one of the most location-independent creative outlets.

3. Writing can be deeply interconnected. Unlike video, writing allows for seamless, granular linking to other content and creators. Through hyperlinks, citations, and references, your work becomes part of a vast web of ideas.

4. It makes your ideas discoverable in niche communities. Searchable articles allow your voice to resonate with highly specific audiences who are already looking for the ideas you share.

5. It’s an ideal platform for introverts. You can share your ideas without needing to show your face or speak in front of a camera.

6. It’s still the easiest way to start creating online. While tools for video editing and design have improved, producing polished visual content often requires significant time and effort. With writing, modern tools can quickly help you refine grammar, flow, and style, letting you focus on your ideas without needing advanced technical skills.

7. It gives you infinite editorial freedom. Unlike other formats, online writing allows you to refine and edit your work even after you’ve posted it!

8. Your audience is yours. You do not truly own any audience you build on social media. A newsletter is a direct contract between you and your readers: they give you their email address in exchange for valuable content, and they can break that contract whenever they stop getting value from your work. No third-party gatekeeper.

9. You won’t be at the whim of an ever-changing algorithm. Speaking of which, you’ll be able to directly talk to your audience instead of hoping that the mysterious algorithm will deliver your content to them. Just a simple human-to-human relationship.

10. It provides a low-risk platform to test ideas. Whether you’d like to launch a startup, produce a documentary, or write a book, you can quickly see which ideas resonate by writing short articles and publishing them online.

11. Switching costs are low. Not happy with your initial setup? While you cannot simply export your content from Instagram to TikTok or other social media platforms, with online writing you’re not tied to any platform. Try Substack, switch to ConvertKit, and come back to Substack or export your email list to MailChimp—you’re free to experiment until you’re happy.

12. Writing is a powerful thinking tool. The act of putting thoughts into words is a simple metacognitive practice that forces clarity and can deepen your understanding of complex ideas.

13. It builds your knowledge base. Over time, your writings become a unique repository of insights and ideas you can revisit and repurpose. Plus, unlike ephemeral social media posts, your work can live on indefinitely, impacting readers years from now.

14. It’s an invisible skill multiplier. The ability to write well makes you better at crafting presentations, emails, and documentation, which is helpful in most types of knowledge work.

15. It creates leverage for your ideas. A single article can be repurposed into tweets, videos, or podcasts, multiplying its impact.

16. Writing creates focus in a distracted world. The process of writing demands you shut out distractions and dive deep into an idea you care about. The rabbit holes become intentional and the content you consume fuels your creative output.

17. It cultivates mindfulness. The deliberate process of choosing words and structuring sentences can act as a meditative practice, anchoring you in the present moment.

18. It has positive downstream effects in many areas of life and work. Beyond the intellectual and creative benefits, writing can boost mental health by providing a structured outlet for self-expression, stress reduction, and emotional processing. It’s a tool for both growth and well-being.

19. Learning in public builds credibility. By documenting your learning journey through your writing, you can establish yourself as a trusted voice in your niche without being an expert.

20. You will become part of a supportive community of creators. Most writers are also avid readers. By writing about your ideas and sharing them with the world, you will connect with fellow curious minds on a path of creative discovery.

21. It can be a springboard for other creative projects. Writing provides a way to explore your curiosity and consider what you might want to work on next. An idea you explored in an article can expand into a book, podcast, course, or community.

22. It captures your intellectual journey. If you make sure to interlink your articles, then, your writings will map out how your ideas and worldview have evolved over time.

23. Writing is an act of self-discovery. It allows you to uncover and articulate ideas you didn’t know you had, turning abstract thoughts into tangible insights.

24. It encourages continuous learning. To write compellingly, you need to consistently research, read, and explore new ideas, creating self-sustainable growth loops.

25. You don’t need permission to start. No approvals or credentials are required. Writing online bypasses traditional publishers and media platforms, allowing you to share your ideas directly with the world.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been writing for years, these 25 reasons highlight why online writing remains as impactful and relevant as ever. So, how do you get started in 2025?

How to Start a Newsletter in 2025

Starting a newsletter has never been easier, but with so many options and tools available, it can feel overwhelming. The key is to keep it simple, focus on delivering value, and stay consistent. Here’s how you can set up a newsletter and start sharing your ideas with the world.

• Define your content thesis. Choose 2-3 topics that have room for you to explore, then draw a Venn Diagram. This will be your content thesis. For instance, mindfulness + productivity = mindful productivity; knowledge management + health = notemaking for wellness; coding + creativity = AI design tutorials.

• Choose a platform. It doesn’t have to be for life. Start with a user-friendly tool like Kit (which is what I use), Beehiiv, or Substack to get up and running quickly then create a simple landing page to make it easy for people to subscribe with a short description of what they’ll get. You can always change all of this later.

• Write directly to your readers. Imagine you’re writing to one person to make your tone conversational and engaging. Encourage feedback by asking your readers to reply, share, or suggest topics—it builds connection and helps you improve. Two birds, one stone.

• Experiment. You won’t know what you like if you don’t give it a try. Your newsletter is a platform for self-discovery. Mix in personal stories, practical tips, curated resources, or interviews and see what you like writing that resonates with your readers.

• Promote your newsletter. Share your newsletter on social media, collaborate with others, and ask your existing network to spread the word. These days, most email platforms have a recommendation network, e.g. Kit’s Creator Network.

• Iterate. Start with a consistent schedule—weekly or bi-weekly works well for most beginners. Focus on publishing regularly and refine as you learn more about what resonates with your audience.

Whether you write 25 or 250 editions, online writing has the power to change your life. It sharpens your thinking, builds meaningful connections, and creates a lasting impact that grows over time.

Creating a newsletter isn’t just about hitting publish; it’s about starting a journey of lifelong curiosity. So start writing, and see where it takes you.

⚡ Brain Picks

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Many thanks to our sponsors for supporting the newsletter. Want to feature your product here? Email joe@nesslabs.com 💌

🤝 Brain Trust

If you enjoy the newsletter, you'll love our community of curious minds who grow together through interactive workshops and safe discussion spaces. Here is preview of what’s happening in the next month:
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• Reimagine your relationship to technology. Join our next Creative Hour hosted by Gosia on Monday, Dec 2nd where you'll develop strategies for a more mindful use of technology.
​• Review your progress. Look back on how your week went and plan your next projects during our next community weekly review hosted by Ashley and Ben every Saturday.
​• Join our Year in Review workshop. Join me for one hour of self-reflection on Monday, Dec 16th where I will walk you through my simple annual review system so you can learn from 2024 and plan for 2025.
​• Run your first tiny experiment. It's not too late to join the current cohort. The special section will remain open until Dec 13th. Just watch the replay of the kickoff session and post your protocol and logbook here.
​• Tackle your to-do list. Joshwin, Lukas, and Javier are hosting coworking sessions on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays covering all timezones.

All of these and future events are included in the price of the annual membership ($49), as well as access to the recordings of all our previous sessions and a growing collection of case studies.

🌊 Brain Waves

Have a friend who wants to make the most of their mind? Send them the newsletter using your unique referral link below and unlock Reflective Minds, a database of good questions from great thinkers and creators.

Until next week, take care!
Anne-Laure.

P.S. Say hello to my furry friend, Mister Squirrel – aka Maurice :)