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Quillstash

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A preview of the quillstash homepage.

Project Overview

Quillstash is an open-source content publishing platform built in collaboration with Ibrahim. Designed to provide a seamless, ad-free writing and reading experience, Quillstash aims to empower writers while fostering an active community.

Since its launch in September 2024, Quillstash has grown steadily, achieving over 20,000 page views, including 3,000 in just the first 30 days, and now averages 4,000 monthly views. The platform currently hosts a group of 10 active writers, and the community is expanding every day.

Objectives

  1. Simplify Publishing: Deliver an intuitive and ad-free platform for both readers and writers.
  2. Empower Writers: Provide tools like AI-powered SEO and OG image generation to help writers amplify their reach.
  3. Foster Community Growth: Build an inclusive and active community of content creators and readers.

Features

  1. Dynamic OpenGraph Image Generation: Automatically generates OG images for each post, featuring the author’s name and article title. If the description is omitted, Google’s Gemini AI crafts an SEO-optimized one.
  2. Modern, Minimalist UI: The site is designed to be distraction-free and straightforward, offering a clean user experience compared to most platforms.
  3. Simple Editor: A no-frills text editor tailored for writers to focus purely on content creation.
  4. Discord Integration: To build community engagement, Quillstash includes a Discord bot that notifies the server when new articles are published.
  5. SEO Optimization Tools: Using SEMrush for keyword research ensures writers’ content is discoverable and aligned with search trends.
A preview of the quillstash homepage.

Technology Stack

  • Next.js: Powering the fullstack application with SSG and SSR capabilities.
  • TailwindCSS: For fast and responsive UI design.
  • Drizzle ORM: Typescript ORM used with a NeonDB PostgreSQL database.
  • Google’s Gemini: Used for AI-driven OpenGraph descriptions.
  • SEMrush: Leveraged for keyword research and content optimization.

Challenges & Learning

Building Quillstash taught me invaluable lessons:

  • SEO & Optimization: Learning the intricacies of keyword research and trend analysis to drive organic growth.
  • Dynamic Content Management: Implementing systems for real-time OG generation and article management.
  • Community Building: Strategizing to engage writers and readers beyond just publishing content.

Outcome

Quillstash has successfully established itself as a modern, full-stack content platform. In just three months:

  • Over 20,000 page views, with consistent monthly growth.
  • 10 active writers, contributing a diverse array of content.
  • A growing Discord community actively engaging with the platform.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, we plan to:

  • Expand community features, such as writer leaderboards and collaborative tools.
  • Introduce advanced analytics for authors to track content performance.
  • Enhance AI capabilities to assist writers further with editing and publishing workflows.