In this post, I’ll explore why I’ve moved away from traditional word processors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs for my writing, and instead use Obsidian – an application typically used for note-taking or managing a Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) system,
Obsidian to manage my Personal Knowledge Management system, and still do. That experience encouraged me to try Obsidian for writing.
What are the benefits of using Obsidian
There are several benefits to using an application with a minimal user interface, such as Obsidian, for writing.
- Reduced distractions. The minimal user interface helps me maintain focus on my writing.
- Markdown. Once you know the basic markup characters used in a Markdown file you can quickly format your text. Discover more in our Markdown guide
- Writing in the same tool as my Personal Knowledge Management system gives me easy access to my notes.
- The Obsidian community co-pilot plugin provides assistance with:
- Improving my grammar and spelling
- Make suggestions on how I can improve my writing
- SEO suggestions
- Social media marketing campaign
- Easy access to any project notes relating to that writing project
- My writing is stored in standard text files, ensuring longevity and portability
What are the downsides of using Obsidian
I find it difficult to identify many downsides, and the one I’m about to share isn’t directly related to Obsidian itself.
I currently use Brevo to manage my mailing list and distribute my weekly newsletter, which is published every Thursday (sign up if you’d like to join!). Unfortunately, Brevo’s newsletter editor doesn’t support Markdown, so I have to reformat the text.
Conclusion
If you’re already using Obsidian to manage your notes, I highly recommend considering it for your writing as well.