typecast
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Typecast is a method for syndicating/broadcasting content to the internet by posting to one's personal website by typing up a post using a typewriter. Posting a typecast to one's site is known as typecasting. Some have called the world of typewritten blog posts the "typosphere".
Why
Beyond traditional means, some writers prefer the tactile modes of thinking facilitated by using a mechanical typewriter or related modalities like handwriting.
IndieWeb Examples
Chris Aldrich has been typecasting since IndieWebCamp San Diego on 2023-12-17. He uses a workflow which utilizes Google Docs and optical character recognition to post to his site using IFTTT and micropub. He primarily uses his 1948 Smith-Corona Typewriter for his posts. Examples include:
- Benefits of typecasting: https://boffosocko.com/2023/12/17/55820262/
- IndieWebCamp San Diego goals: https://boffosocko.com/2023/12/17/55820264/
- https://boffosocko.com/2023/12/17/typecasting-with-indieweb-building-blocks/
- His typecast and typewriter-related posts can be found at https://boffosocko.com/tag/typewriters,typecasts/
- An example of a like/love post to another typecast: https://boffosocko.com/2024/01/01/55820638/
jo created a typecast on 2023-09-30 at This post was typewritten.
Site Examples
- https://writingball.blogspot.com/
- https://onetypedpage.com/
- https://the-typewriter-boy.blogspot.com/
Individual post examples
- Author of The Typewriter Revolution Richard Polk's first typecast on 2010-08-21 Maiden Typecast
- Alton Brown typing Twitter response: https://twitter.com/altonbrown/status/277928769270992896
- https://nontxt.com/writing-on-a-manual-typewriter/
- https://munk.org/typecast/2018/06/02/on-the-death-of-the-typosphere-a-few-thoughts-and-ideas/
- https://nontxt.com/writing-on-a-manual-typewriter/
- https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/typecast-my-royal-fp-steampunk/
- https://amsterdamassassin.wordpress.com/2018/12/18/typecast-hello-gorgeous/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110312035526/http://www.strikethru.net/2009/01/typecast-in-which-some-visual-effects.html
- https://nontxt.com/typecasting/
Blogroll
A blogroll feed of typecast posts and typewriter related content can be found at the bottom of the page at https://typosphere.blogspot.com/ (hint: click on "show all" at the bottom to see more).
Brainstorming
Simply taking a photo and posting to one's site is the simplest method, but for accessibility one might consider including alt text.
Some post only a photo of their typewritten pages, but others include a typed transcription of the page as well.
To encourage writers to post to their website, one could consider hosting a "type-in".
Potential issue: using typecast images as replies to posts may not work well as some commenting systems (WordPress for one) will sanitize out HTML for images, thus removing the body of the comment. Within WordPress, the webmentions will be received, but will be blank, unless there was body text. As a result of this, including a copy of the text in the body of the post (and not just alt-text) may be beneficial.
Articles
- 2023-12-17 Chris Aldrich: Typecasting with IndieWeb Building Blocks (archived)
- 2020-05-01 : Typecasting, take two: writing on a manual typewriter (archived)
- 2018-06-02 : On the “Death” of the Typosphere, a Few Thoughts and Ideas (archived)
- 2015-09-25 : A Typecaster's Guide to the Road (archived)
- 2013-09-13 : What is a Typecast (archived)
- 2013-04-28 : Typecasting Format (archived)
- 2012 : What is the Typosphere? (archived)
See Also
- typewriter
- handwriting
- blog
- blogging
- Micropub
- printer
- vlog (or video)
- https://handwiki.org/wiki/Typecasting_(blogging)
- https://typosphere.blogspot.com/
- Richard Polt's The Classic Typewriter Page, a fantastic resource for all things typewriter
- Online Typewriter Groups