Great Advice on Writing and the Future of Search

Great Advice on Writing and the Future of Search

Writing is a craft that takes time and practice to master. Tim Urban, the founder of Wait But Why, shared his journey of writing 300 blog posts before finding his voice and style. He emphasized the importance of experimenting, rewriting, and trying new approaches until it clicks. This process of fiddling with your writing is essential for growth and improvement.

One crucial aspect of becoming a better writer is reading. Urban compares reading to fertilizer for writers. By immersing yourself in different styles and voices, you can find inspiration and learn from the masters. He suggests starting somewhere in the middle, imitating the styles you admire, and gradually developing your unique voice. The goal is to find a balance between imitation and innovation, allowing your writing to evolve and mature over time.

While feedback is valuable for writers, Urban advises being cautious about where it comes from. It is crucial to seek feedback from individuals who believe in you, root for your success, and understand that you are experimenting and growing. Their feedback should be aimed at helping you find your voice and gain confidence. The ideas behind your writing are more important than the quality of the writing itself. Great ideas with pretty good writing are preferable to the other way around.

Shifting gears, let's delve into the future of search. Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO and Co-founder of Neeva and a Venture Partner at Greylock, provides insights into the evolution of search engines. He highlights that Google's success was not solely due to having a great product but also because of strategic business moves. Partnering with influential companies like Yahoo! and AOL, as well as securing deals with PC manufacturers, allowed Google to become the default search engine for many users.

Ramaswamy also addresses the challenges faced by search engines. As revenue pressures increase, search engines are compelled to show more ads, potentially degrading the user experience. Neeva's approach, on the other hand, focuses on personalized search while prioritizing user privacy. By obtaining permission and ensuring transparency, personal data can be utilized to deliver a better product without any ulterior motives. This alignment between user satisfaction and profitability distinguishes Neeva's model from traditional advertising-based search engines.

The conversation shifts to the economics of search. Ramaswamy notes that Google's returns on search have skyrocketed, but these gains do not necessarily benefit the users. Neeva aims to add more features or lower costs as they scale, ensuring that value is delivered directly to the users. Additionally, research suggests that a significant portion of the population is open to trying different search engines, indicating potential for market disruption.

An intriguing aspect of Neeva's vision is their commitment to supporting content creators. If a snippet from a website enhances the user experience, Neeva believes it's their duty to share a portion of the revenue with the content creator. This approach aligns with their long-term goal of using search as a means to fund content. It presents a fresh perspective on the relationship between search engines and content creators, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and fair compensation.

In conclusion, both Tim Urban's advice on writing and Sridhar Ramaswamy's insights on the future of search offer valuable lessons. For aspiring writers, experimenting, reading extensively, and seeking feedback from the right sources are key to finding your unique voice. On the other hand, the future of search lies in personalized experiences, user privacy, and a shift towards value-driven models. Here are three actionable pieces of advice derived from these discussions:

• 1. Embrace experimentation in your writing journey. Don't be afraid to rewrite, start over, or try new approaches until you find your voice.

• 2. Expand your reading horizons to fertilize your writing. Study different styles and voices to inspire and learn from the masters.

• 3. Prioritize user satisfaction and value creation in any business endeavor. By aligning your goals with the needs of your users, you can build a sustainable and impactful product.

Remember, writing and search are ever-evolving landscapes. Stay curious, adaptable, and open to new perspectives to thrive in these dynamic fields.