Offline vs. online writing

Is it still different?

Do you remember when blogging became all the rage a lifetime ago, and we were told that writing for the web is distinctive from writing for print?

Surely by now, writing online and offline isn’t that different?

It depends.

The distinction is not between writing web or print content but between writing short, informative pieces or using long-form storytelling. Both can be found online.

We still consume online content differently: We scan and skim more, scroll and skip, are attracted to visual cues and are easily distracted. And when reading a longer piece of writing online, we willingly put more effort into comprehending. We are committed to it.

As writers, we choose to build a long-form narrative that progresses and might reach its stunning conclusion only at the end. We structure longer articles differently. We choose to add details we would skip when writing shorter pieces. We build suspense. And in those instances, we assume the reader is patient and willing to follow our pace.

That applies to offline and online long-form content.

In recent years, longer articles have become as relevant on the web as shorter pieces, and demand is growing. Long-form has established itself as…