Every day I wake up and ask myself one question. What do you want to write about today? Or rather, what are you going to write about today? I've developed this philosophy that one of the better ways to always feel the sharpest about my pen is to actively exercise it. It's a way to train my brain to understand that writing should not feel like a task, but just a regular part of the day, a regular bodily function like breathing or blinking. Something that can be done without even giving it a second thought.

There is a thing about us writers I think we all have in common. It's that we love to write. For some of us, it's hearing the keys click on our laptops, or that scritch-scratching of a pen on paper. Some of the more daring writers I know prefer to text, literally texting their prose from a phone.

And I have to interject here for a second to bring up this point. I like writing from my phone. There, I said it. The possibilities are really there with touch typing. Though, it still feels like technology has not reached its peak yet. I feel like there should be a much more efficient way to type on our phones that's even quicker than a full on keyboard. I mean, there is swiping, but it's not faster than typing. But I digress.

It seems that today’s world cannot get enough of text input. While more visually prone platforms like Instagram and TikTok still thrive, there are new and more niche social network communities that are reminding users of the power and fun that is, simply writing. I've always said:

Prose & poetry are the greatest and most intricate forms of human expression.

I think back to my early days on the internet. We had networks like Tumblr and WordPress (and Blogger). While one was great for a more professional tone, it lacked the creativity or spontaneity the other possessed, and vice versa. But now, we have options that cover such a wide range of possibilities and user experiences.

You could go for the more professional and journalistic approach of Medium, where many seasoned writers swear by and even write exclusively. Or the newcomer Substack, which, a bit like Tumblr, blends some social features while keeping the mainstay writing. Both offer monetization, which is something fairly new when it comes to the social writing network sphere.

These two are really the titans when it comes to it. Then, of course, we have the ever present microblogging platforms, many of which now come with longer post and “article” options.

X, yes, the mighty X, longtime microblogging platform, not the first but arguably the one that did it best. You can write some longer posts here if you buy a blue check, and even full-length legacy media-type articles if you pay a little extra (things you can do for free on Medium, Substack, WordPress, and many more).

We also have Farcaster, Mastodon, Bluesky, all X (but really Twitter) clones that allow you a certain number of characters to express yourself. The only one I know that has anything similar to a full blogging feature is Farcaster, with a mini app called Paragraph, which is really a separate decentralized platform that works more as the decentralized version of a WordPress or Substack.

So there is that. I'm sure there are more blogging/writing platforms that allow you to do your thing, but really, outside of something like Ghost or Beehiiv, which most casual users are not going to meddle with, that's pretty much all you have.

Oh yea, and I forgot to mention Threads too, another Twitter clone that's surprisingly prone to writers. Though it has image and video, much of the content is text-based, and the community for writers there thrives almost inherently, it seems.

They also just released a new feature that allows for more characters input (for free) that rivals X’s (paid) articles feature, though a little less robust. It has markdown capabilities but not much else. It's nice, but I'm sure there will be more in the future. I'm excited to see where it goes. Hell, I'm excited for the future of writing in general.

But that does bring me to a new challenger stepping into the ring of the mighty blogospheres. And that's, well, that's the platform you're reading this article from right now. It needs no introduction. Or does it?

It's River! Yes, River, this little app that I discovered via... I actually don't recall where I discovered this app. You see, I like to think of myself as an app enthusiast, if you will. I'm always looking for the newest, coolest app. But not just any old crusty app. I like my apps to be designed with careful thought and a true eye for aesthetics.

I mean, we pay over a thousand smackeroos for these phones. I want whatever I'm staring at for hours a day to be in accord with certain visual acuity.

So when I talk about being an app head, I really mean scouring the app store recommendations and rankings for new unseen apps, following tech channels that report new updates from apps and new app drops, checking Product Hunt every day (even though nowadays it's mostly filled with new AI nonsense).

So there is no telling where I found River, but I'm certainly glad I did, and around the time I found it. It seems to still be early, but the concept is great. I would tell you all about how it works and things like that, but someone has already done the honors, and frankly, I don't think I could do much better. You can check that out here.

I'm just here to talk about how cool I think it is that River has decided to add this feature. I have already enjoyed it, many users have taken great River is already one of my favorite everyday apps. It works so perfectly as a diary, lookbook, inspiration source, anti-propaganda fuel, safe space.

There is just so much to like and not much to dislike. The aesthetics, which I already mentioned are a big part for me, match perfectly with my love for minimalism. It doesn't do too much, it keeps everything simple. No ads, no boosted posts, no “for you” page or algorithm.

If there was ever a place like social media heaven, I have to imagine it's modeled in the same fashion.

So what does it look like from here on out? Some users are getting used to seeing these new blog posts appearing in the feed (many of them being pinned), and new users will have no memory of the time before this feature.

What has me most excited is that this app, that I already love, has entered the chat as a home for writers. It just shows how much the power of writing is being realized. And it feels good to know that this very dear medium of expression is still seen as valuable by some visionaries and app developers.

So, this piece is not really anything other than me thanking the devs and applauding them for stepping into the ring. I have a feeling that this will be a great place for writers. It has major potential.