Your framing of short form as a worldview engine really resonates with my own vision. It’s not about chasing attention, but shaping a future through coherence.
‘Short form is not just a tool for distribution, it is actually a mirror.’ That line hit me. The best writing I’ve done hasn’t come from chasing attention, it’s come from testing my own clarity. Short form really does force you to see what you actually believe and whether you’re willing to stand behind it.
Fantastic reminder to not give up too soon! I've been struggling with short form for a long time. The snippets-of-worldview analogy really makes sense. Would love to see a more in depth post with practical tips in the future. Thanks Benjamin
I do agree, but only after posting the random thoughts, haha. Like, post random stuff until it feels like a direction, and then commit extra hard to that direction, in my opinion.
Sure up to a point. Although it is important to be speaking to or arguing a point…just sharing thoughts without structure or an aim is a bit like going to the gym and just kind of walking around
The flood of information is growing exponentially, and the reaction time expected of us is getting ever shorter. This is the FAST world we live in – and no one can change it. We must learn to navigate it without harming ourselves. To support this, we need to acknowledge the staccato of the FAST world. The right approach is to deliver suggestions that are compressed yet meaningful – in short form. Only then can we perhaps spark a SLOW mindset to help us thrive in this FAST world.
This was a really great read. I’m pretty comfortable with short form (I struggle with longer form because I have the attention span of a hamster) but love how you highlight the value.
Joseph Campbell once said that his yoga was simply underlining sentences. Think that somewhat sums up the entire point here. "Make your sentences worth underlining."
Interesting point. On a side note I tried reading the heroes journey and found it incredibly difficult to get through. I know a lot of people quote it but man that was not written for mass consumption
Definitely not. _The Power of Myth," a series of videos with Bill Moyers, and the companion book, are much easier to digest. Happily, PBS runs the series regularly; it's one of their best fundraiser series. He's really not that difficult once you get past orthodoxy and take him where he is. He's not an advocate for anything or an evangelist. He's more interested in religious myth as an idea. But if someone tries to get to a personal fairh rather than an academic topic, there's just no there there. 😵💫
One of the best articles I read about short-form content.
Thank you Sir.
Thanks Matt I’ve done a bit of a U turn on it. Took me a while to come around
Your evolution and admittance adds even further credibility. Absolutely brilliant Ben. Sincere thanks for this game changing perspective.
Your framing of short form as a worldview engine really resonates with my own vision. It’s not about chasing attention, but shaping a future through coherence.
That’s exactly it. Shaping future coherence. Well put
Even in a FAST world, a short suggestion can open the door to something slower, deeper, wiser
100%
‘Short form is not just a tool for distribution, it is actually a mirror.’ That line hit me. The best writing I’ve done hasn’t come from chasing attention, it’s come from testing my own clarity. Short form really does force you to see what you actually believe and whether you’re willing to stand behind it.
This is great. Short form forces you to condense, to trim away the fat, to get to the core of things.
This names something real for me and I’m really noticing how long it takes to let a worldview form without rushing to declare one.
For me, short form has been less about conditioning perception and more about listening for coherence as it emerges.
I’m less interested in being understood quickly, and more interested in being met accurately.
Depth shows up in the pattern, not in any single post.
Short form builds trust when it reflects thinking, not just talking.
I love this thought process of gaining attraction and actually making a thoughtful post!
Fantastic reminder to not give up too soon! I've been struggling with short form for a long time. The snippets-of-worldview analogy really makes sense. Would love to see a more in depth post with practical tips in the future. Thanks Benjamin
Short form can be really hard to wrap your head around. Took me almost a year to get the hang of it
I do agree, but only after posting the random thoughts, haha. Like, post random stuff until it feels like a direction, and then commit extra hard to that direction, in my opinion.
Sure up to a point. Although it is important to be speaking to or arguing a point…just sharing thoughts without structure or an aim is a bit like going to the gym and just kind of walking around
True true!
Thanks so much Ben. This is incredibly helpful and a post I know I will return again. You've just shifted my perspective on Notes. Cheers.
Interesting article. But one writes what one feels. Feelings don't necessarily have to follow a preordained flow...
"Building a body of work that speaks for you..."
I love that, and that's what I'm trying to do.
The flood of information is growing exponentially, and the reaction time expected of us is getting ever shorter. This is the FAST world we live in – and no one can change it. We must learn to navigate it without harming ourselves. To support this, we need to acknowledge the staccato of the FAST world. The right approach is to deliver suggestions that are compressed yet meaningful – in short form. Only then can we perhaps spark a SLOW mindset to help us thrive in this FAST world.
This was a really great read. I’m pretty comfortable with short form (I struggle with longer form because I have the attention span of a hamster) but love how you highlight the value.
Thanks Liam. I’m the opposite which is why it took me so long to undestand this
In my journal I used to highlight and keep the sentences that make to me most sense in separate pages.
Something like the best off.
I think you are right.
When at times I'm just expressing views get close to none.
When it is about something that I know it can help views are increasing.
Delving keeping into what you know and are curious about is the right path to follow
You are in the right path.
Joseph Campbell once said that his yoga was simply underlining sentences. Think that somewhat sums up the entire point here. "Make your sentences worth underlining."
Interesting point. On a side note I tried reading the heroes journey and found it incredibly difficult to get through. I know a lot of people quote it but man that was not written for mass consumption
Definitely not. _The Power of Myth," a series of videos with Bill Moyers, and the companion book, are much easier to digest. Happily, PBS runs the series regularly; it's one of their best fundraiser series. He's really not that difficult once you get past orthodoxy and take him where he is. He's not an advocate for anything or an evangelist. He's more interested in religious myth as an idea. But if someone tries to get to a personal fairh rather than an academic topic, there's just no there there. 😵💫