When I deploy/publish software, there's usually nobody using it (just like my writing), but when eventually somebody actually uses it, I get to see what interactions they did. There's a lot of fine-grained, actionable feedback about what works and where users get lost. The first time a stranger succeeds in using my app to accomplish what they set out to do: woah, dopamine rush!
Each piece is it’s own small bet. You never know what’s going to resonate with people and often I surprise myself too. However, you also improve and your audience grows with you, rooting for you. I always enjoy reading whatever you’re writing Chao, so if you do enjoy it, keep writing :)
That's amazing Chao. Thanks for the thread love. Sounds like a story in of itself, how you thought of, developed, and built such a large following for your app. Would love to hear it some time.
Thanks Rick! And yes, Thread Reader has been quite an adventure and good writing fodder - the adventure keeps continuing tho' (getting "Elon'd" being the latest episode 😭) I think I need a whole slew of sparring gyms to get it out
Another way to think about it - writing is you coming back to an idea and going deeper and deeper. Each time you get a little more clarity on the idea.
Each piece is it’s own small bet. You never know what’s going to resonate with people and often I surprise myself too. However, you also improve and your audience grows with you, rooting for you. I always enjoy reading whatever you’re writing Chao, so if you do enjoy it, keep writing :)
Thanks, Michelle - and you are truly showing us a plausible path in both your words and accomplishments!
Thanks for the shout, Chao! I love this: I've come to realize that for writing, I am the "software".
To borrow a question I often here: "is it a bug or a feature?" By debugging our writing blocks, we discover the unique features of our writing
It's great how you bring the metaphor one level deeper! There's indeed a lot to debug, and I do love the phrase Connection Crave - so evocative
Thanks so much for the mention Chao, but this is just dawning on me that Thread Reader App is your product. Is that so??
Yes, I help run @ThreadReaderApp - love all the threads you've been publishing!
That's amazing Chao. Thanks for the thread love. Sounds like a story in of itself, how you thought of, developed, and built such a large following for your app. Would love to hear it some time.
Thanks Rick! And yes, Thread Reader has been quite an adventure and good writing fodder - the adventure keeps continuing tho' (getting "Elon'd" being the latest episode 😭) I think I need a whole slew of sparring gyms to get it out
Let me know if I can help. I'd be happy to be an interested listener and ask curious questions.
Thanks for the offer, Rick. You are a great a sparring partner... will definitely reach out when I'm ready
Really glad to see this! Thanks for the shoutout.
Another way to think about it - writing is you coming back to an idea and going deeper and deeper. Each time you get a little more clarity on the idea.
Heh, interesting! Hadn't thought about that angle