Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of creating short-form content alongside long-form pieces to cater to readers with limited time and shorter attention spans.

Abstract

The author reflects on an experience where they were deterred from engaging with a writer's work due to the lack of short-form content. Highlighting the fast-paced nature of modern life, the article suggests that writers should offer a mix of content lengths to accommodate varying reader preferences and time constraints. By doing so, writers can provide a more accessible entry point for new readers who may not have the time or attention span for lengthy articles. The author advises writers to step out of their comfort zones and diversify their content, ensuring they don't inadvertently alienate potential audiences by being too rigid in their content creation.

Opinions

The author believes that writers have a limited window to capture a reader's interest and that shorter pieces can serve as an effective hook.
It is expressed that the writer's own profile should reflect a variety of content lengths to engage a broader audience.
The article suggests that a balance between short and long-form content can prevent potential readers from feeling overwhelmed and encourage them to explore an author's work.
The author posits that while it's important not to compromise one's writing style, adaptability in content length can be beneficial in reaching a wider readership.
The author encourages writers to occasionally challenge themselves by creating content outside their usual length preferences to cater to different reader needs.

You Need To Write Some Shorter Form Content

If you don’t, you may have some regrets

The other day, I was hanging out on Medium.

I went to check out another writer’s profile. I wanted to see what her work was like.

There was one problem though.

The catastrophe

I clicked on this writer’s profile and scrolled down for a story that looked juicy.

It felt like I was scrolling forever.

I couldn’t find one. The problem was that all of their stories were long. The shortest one I saw was a 6-minute read.

I wanted to read their work, but I couldn’t commit to 6 minutes. Maybe I’m lazy.

But this is the world we live in.

Let’s face it

Everyone is busy. Our attention spans are getting shorter. As a writer, you have a few seconds to draw someone in. That’s your golden opportunity.

I genuinely wanted to see this writer’s work. But I couldn’t commit to a 6-minute story.

I would have read anything that would have taken me 4 minutes or less. But 6 minutes was a big ask for a first-time reader.

We all face constraints in our lives. We get 24 hours in each day.

I can only read stories on here for so many hours. I also have to write my own stuff.

Beyond that, I have a whole life off of here.

Put yourself in their shoes

As a writer, try to put yourself in your readers’ shoes. Imagine that you’re a potential first-time reader of your own work.

If you went to your profile, would you be able to quickly find something worth diving into?

If not, that’s something you should probably work on.

Let’s be clear

I’m not saying that you should only write short-form content. I’m not even saying that you should write that much short-form content.

All I’m saying is that you should occasionally mix it up. If you write mostly long-form, throw together a shorter piece occasionally. If you write mostly short-form, throw together a longer piece every once in a while.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Many people can’t commit to reading a long story. Let them have a taste of your work. Don’t starve them.

Mix things up and see what readers gravitate towards.

Don’t sacrifice who you are or change your style entirely.

But you don’t want to be so rigid in your work that it forces people away.

Accept the nature of the world we’re living in and work within those constraints.

Writing can be both short and valuable.

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