Dylan Tweney

Freelance Contributor at Freelance

Writer, editor, swimmer, @tinywords publisher. Former editor at @venturebeat @WIRED. Also @dylan20 on Instagram & Threads

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Articles

What Eminem taught me about SEO and authenticity

Jan 17, 2025 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

Years ago, I wrote a column about copyright on the Internet that became one of my most popular posts, drawing ridiculous traffic to my website for years. It helped that I gave it the title “The Real Slim Shady” and that, due to a fluke of Google’s search algorithm, it ranked on the first page of search results for that phrase.
Message Lab’s Ben Worthen on the enduring value of a great story, well-told

Nov 27, 2024 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

This week, I'm excited to share an interview I did recently with Ben Worthen, founder of content agency Message Lab. Ben's one of my role models in the content business, as he's built Message Lab into a standout content agency – one of the few to effectively combine top-notch storytelling and the effective use of metrics.
21 speechwriting resources from the World Conference of speechwriters

Nov 15, 2024 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

Last month, I attended the Professional Speechwriters Association's World Conference in Washington, D.C. I also attended the PSA's one-day Speechwriting School, which immediately preceded the conference. Both were invaluable. I met many other speechwriters, absorbed some of the lore of the craft, and learned many specific and actionable tools I can use in my own work.
What is a storyline, anyway?

Aug 23, 2024 | medium.com | Dylan Tweney

When searching for a name for my newsletter, I kept returning to “Storylines” because I felt like it reflected the essence of my work. My favorite jobs have been ones where I help a client find their storylines and define them in a crisp, compelling, resonant way. That, in turn, has led to coverage, top-of-funnel marketing leads, closed deals, and customer retention for my clients. Good storylines are powerful.
Tips on using generative AI to help you write better

Aug 18, 2024 | medium.com | Dylan Tweney

I recently wrote about how I use AI for writing. In this article, I’d like to share some detailed tips and prompts that have worked for me and other writers. The number one piece of advice I have for writers working with AI chatbots is to treat them like interns or research assistants you are giving assignments to. In other words, don’t expect the AI to do the work for you — certainly not at the same level that you do. Treat it as a helper and collaborator.
21 ways to use AI to make you a better writer

Aug 18, 2024 | medium.com | Dylan Tweney

A burning question for anyone in the content business is this: Will AI replace me? In the short term, it’s certainly having a sharply negative effect on writers’ careers. Freelance writing work is disappearing, according to a study done by Upwork that Christopher Mims reported on in June. Since ChatGPT first appeared, the number of freelance jobs posted on sites like Upwork and Fiverr has declined by 21%, and freelance writers’ fees have declined by 19%, worse than any other category of freelancer.
How I use AI for writing

Aug 6, 2024 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

A burning question for anyone in the content business is this: Will AI replace me? In the short term, it’s certainly having a sharply negative effect on writers’ careers. Freelance writing work is disappearing, according to a study done by Upwork that Christopher Mims reported on in June. Since ChatGPT first appeared, the number of freelance jobs posted on sites like Upwork and Fiverr has declined by 21%, and freelance writers’ fees have declined by 19%, worse than any other category of freelancer.
Don't panic.

Jul 18, 2024 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

It’s July, and things are moving slowly in my neighborhood. The sun came up right on schedule this morning at 6:03. I know it happened, because I was there, though I didn’t see the sun itself until about ten minutes later, when it rose over the fogbank covering Hayward. The tide was out and half the Coyote Point cove was just mudflat, puddles of water reflecting the slowly brightening sky, the power towers, and a handful of lights sprinkled on the opposite shore.
Embracing the Zen of collaborative writing

Jul 12, 2024 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

I jumped into a writing career right out of college because I was jazzed about the potential for self-expression, and because I was getting hooked on the rush of seeing my work appear in print.
25 things I learned in 25 years of newsletter publishing

Jun 25, 2024 | dylan.tweney.com | Dylan Tweney

In today’s writing circle, fellow writer Alicia asked me if I had just recently launched my newsletter. “No,” I said, “I’ve been publishing it in one form or another for about 20 years.”In fact, when I looked at the archive, I realized that I’ve been publishing a newsletter for over 25 years. When I first started sending emails to a few friends and family, back in 1998, I had no idea that the practice would turn into a career-transforming newsletter. In fact, it was sort of an accident.