831: Revisiting Our Writing Workflows

The Mac Power Users podcast explores digital writing workflows, emphasizing tools and techniques for enhancing personal writing rather than relying on AI for content creation. The hosts discuss research and preparation methods, highlighting apps like DevonThink, Keep It, OmniOutliner, and MindNode for collecting research, developing ideas, and outlining. They delve into various writing apps, including TOT, Drafts, IA Writer, Scrivener, Ulysses, BBEdit, Obsidian, and Noteplan, categorizing them by writing format and purpose. The discussion underscores the importance of editing, advocating for context switches and tools like Grammarly to improve writing quality. The hosts also touch on delivery methods, from web publishing to print, and the role of platforms like Google Docs in collaborative writing.

Outlines

Part 1: Introduction, Philosophy

Part 2: Research, Preparation

Part 3: Idea Development, Brainstorming

Part 4: Voice, Dictation, AI

Part 5: Writing Tools, Markdown

Part 6: Long Form, Complexity

Part 7: Specialized Editors, Environment

Part 8: Editing, Feedback

Part 9: Delivery, Collaboration

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Mac Power Users

Part 1: Introduction, Philosophy

00:03Revisiting Writing Workflows: Importance for Everyone, Not Just Writers

Revisiting Writing Workflows: Importance for Everyone, Not Just Writers

00:49Digital Legacy: Preserving Your Writing Beyond Your Lifetime

Digital Legacy: Preserving Your Writing Beyond Your Lifetime

02:11Writing vs. Publishing: Enhancing Your Words, Not Replacing Them

Writing vs. Publishing: Enhancing Your Words, Not Replacing Them

04:05Excluding Academic Writing: Focusing on General Writing Workflows

Excluding Academic Writing: Focusing on General Writing Workflows

Part 2: Research, Preparation

05:23Research and Prep: DevonThink as a Critical Research Tool

Research and Prep: DevonThink as a Critical Research Tool

08:56Alternative Research Tools: Keep It and Finder for Smaller Projects

Alternative Research Tools: Keep It and Finder for Smaller Projects

11:23The Importance of OCR and Link Collection Apps for Research

The Importance of OCR and Link Collection Apps for Research

13:16ReadWise Reader: A Powerful Research Tool for Spaced Repetition

ReadWise Reader: A Powerful Research Tool for Spaced Repetition

Part 3: Idea Development, Brainstorming

14:14Idea Development: OmniOutliner and MindNode for Visual Brainstorming

Idea Development: OmniOutliner and MindNode for Visual Brainstorming

17:05Slowing Down: The Benefits of Outlining for Thoughtful Communication

Slowing Down: The Benefits of Outlining for Thoughtful Communication

19:52Cooking Ideas: Allowing Time for Subconscious Brain Processing

Cooking Ideas: Allowing Time for Subconscious Brain Processing

22:10Capturing Ideas: The Importance of Accessibility and Quick Note-Taking

Capturing Ideas: The Importance of Accessibility and Quick Note-Taking

Part 4: Voice, Dictation, AI

24:00Voice-to-Text and Rubber Duck Debugging: Talking Through Ideas

Voice-to-Text and Rubber Duck Debugging: Talking Through Ideas

26:05Dictation and AI: Enhancing, Not Replacing, Your Writing Voice

Dictation and AI: Enhancing, Not Replacing, Your Writing Voice

28:16AI as a Tool: Suggestions, Not Gospel, for Better Writing

AI as a Tool: Suggestions, Not Gospel, for Better Writing

Part 5: Writing Tools, Markdown

32:56Writing Anywhere: The Flexibility of Modern Writing Tools

Writing Anywhere: The Flexibility of Modern Writing Tools

34:33Writing Formats and Apps: A Breakdown by Type of Writing

Writing Formats and Apps: A Breakdown by Type of Writing

35:25Short Form Quick Capture: Taut and Drafts for Instant Note-Taking

Short Form Quick Capture: Taut and Drafts for Instant Note-Taking

38:44Apple Notes: A Free, Ubiquitous Option for Quick Capture

Apple Notes: A Free, Ubiquitous Option for Quick Capture

40:53Markdown: Timeless Text for Web Publishing

Markdown: Timeless Text for Web Publishing

41:51IA Writer: A Simple, Powerful Markdown Editor with Custom Typefaces

IA Writer: A Simple, Powerful Markdown Editor with Custom Typefaces

43:35IA Writer's Syntax Highlighting: Improving Writing Through Analysis

IA Writer's Syntax Highlighting: Improving Writing Through Analysis

45:35Drafts as a Markdown Editor: Syntax Highlighting and Customization

Drafts as a Markdown Editor: Syntax Highlighting and Customization

Part 6: Long Form, Complexity

48:02Long Form Writing: Scrivener and Ulysses for Book-Length Projects

Long Form Writing: Scrivener and Ulysses for Book-Length Projects

50:02Scrivener: Combining Research and Writing in One App

Scrivener: Combining Research and Writing in One App

52:06Managing Complexity: Scrivener for Chronological and Research-Heavy Projects

Managing Complexity: Scrivener for Chronological and Research-Heavy Projects

53:11Scrivener for Legal Work: Building Contracts from a Rich Text Database

Scrivener for Legal Work: Building Contracts from a Rich Text Database

Part 7: Specialized Editors, Environment

54:47Version Control and Markup: Track Changes in Word and Pages

Version Control and Markup: Track Changes in Word and Pages

56:20Plain Text Purists: BBEdit as the Poster Child

Plain Text Purists: BBEdit as the Poster Child

57:15BBEdit: Customization and Power for Plain Text Editing

BBEdit: Customization and Power for Plain Text Editing

59:40Obsidian and Noteplan: Markdown Editors with Linking Capabilities

Obsidian and Noteplan: Markdown Editors with Linking Capabilities

1:00:28Writing Environment: IA Writer's Focus Mode and Vision Pro's Distraction-Free Space

Writing Environment: IA Writer's Focus Mode and Vision Pro's Distraction-Free Space

1:03:04Vision Pro: A Distraction-Free Writing Space with Limited App Options

Vision Pro: A Distraction-Free Writing Space with Limited App Options

Part 8: Editing, Feedback

1:04:51Editing: The Need for Context Switching and Time

Editing: The Need for Context Switching and Time

1:05:56Editing Tools: Voice-to-Text, AI, and Grammarly for Grammar Checks

Editing Tools: Voice-to-Text, AI, and Grammarly for Grammar Checks