|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
How To Write for the Web
The Scanning Reader Writing for the Web is different than writing for print. The differences are slight but significant. First, people don't really read online; they scan because of what is called the "flicker rate" of a computer monitor. This means people read 25% slower online than in print publications. What does this mean for you as a writer? It means you have to write differently to connect with readers. Begin at the End Writing for the Web is like good journalism. Use the old, "Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How" journalistic formula when you write for the web. This is called the inverted pyramid. Put your conclusion at the beginning and then write the details. The Web is a no-nonsense, grab-it-and-go, and give-it-to-me-now medium. You must connect with a reader immediately or you lose them. Write Chunky Since the reader is scanning rather than reading you must break your text down into bite size portions. You'll notice this article has short, chunky segments. Each segment only needs 75 words or less. This opens up the white space surrounding the text and provides comfortable reading. Chunky writing takes some practice but it is quite easy. When you write chunky, create strong headlines and subheadings. Make your main points and move the reader along. Also, use short bulleted or numbered lists like this: * Bullets See how the text opens up and moves along? Sail the High Cs There are four C words you need to know when writing for the Web. * Concise Write tight. Keep it short. Eliminate unnecessary words. * Clear Use precise words. Get specific and avoid generalizations. * Clean Avoid excessive clutter in your writing. Pick up the litter of too many ?ly words and put them in the wastebasket. Empty "that" into the dumpster unless you have to keep it. Then keep only what you need. * Credible Write with honesty and integrity. Nothing is wrong with marketing but readers recognize slick, manipulative tactics. Write from your heart, even in advertising, and you will reach readers. K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Sweetheart! The last "S" was changed intentionally to a term ala Humphrey Bogart. Because you should never, ever insult your readers' intelligence. But at the same time, write in easy-to-understand terms and your readers will love you for it. And they will keep reading what you write. Every writer needs a good vocabulary but that doesn't mean it should be used to make readers feel unlearned or uneducated. The bottom line? Keep it simple, encourage and inform your readers with short, clear, crisp writing. Then you will enjoy success as a great web writer! Copyright © 2002 Glenn White About The Author Glenn White is a freelance writer, editor and content manager at his web site for Inspirational and Christian writers at: http://www.WriteToInspire.com
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Idea Mining for Writers 101 Want to write an article or book, but are stuck for ideas? Here are a few practical ways to awaken that muse. A Series of Articles on Autobiography ESSAYS ON AUTOBIOGRAPHY: NUMBER 1 Self-examination vs Self-indulgence Self-examination is brutally honest. Self-indulgence is brutally maudlin. How To Break Into Print Publishing The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers, or doyou find an agent who will do that for you? Based on anecdotalevidence I've heard, it can work either way. The bottom line is,if a publisher reads what he can sell, he'll buy it. It doesn'tmatter if it comes from an author or an agent. The trick isgetting him to read it. That's always your focus. Teachers Should Write, During Their Summers Before I became a teacher, I was a sports writer. Working for a newspaper taught me a lot about writing, especially dealing with the pressures of deadlines. I enjoyed the writing so much that I started writing fiction about 10 years ago, during my time off. Italics Part 1 - Do You Need to Use Italics? Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP! Learning to Question Your Elephant Child: Who, What, Where, When and Why Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll writes up to five columns a week. After all, if he can write five columns, you should be able to write a five-lined poem-but that does not seem to be the case. Mind Mapping Your Journal Entries Clustering, also called Mind Mapping, is a great way to savespace and time when you journal. For those of you thataren't familiar with Mind Mapping, you can search in Googleon the words or reading one of Tony Buzan's (the creator)books. At the end I've included the ten basic rules of MindMapping. Graphology - Unleash Inner Personality & Talent of Child || Graphology & Graphotherapy || Should I Keep Writing? Writers are an insecure lot. You Cant Always Believe What You See On Your Computer Screen You may not remember this, but in the early days of the personal computer, many industry insiders were predicting a paperless society. How NOT to Get a Freelance Writing Job In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to be good at writing. You also have to be good at finding work ? and selling yourself when you do. Persuading a new client to let you write for them, rather than one of the hundreds of other writers out there, can be an art in itself. Here's how not to do it? Writing About Writing What am I going to write about?Which topic is the best?Who is going to be interested in my article? Writing Help Whether you are working for a small business, large corporation, or are a student, there are numerous sources that you can turn to for help with writing. Businesses need to be able to effectively communicate with their customers, their employees and their potential customers. Effective verbal communication is equally important, but nonverbal communication in the form of copy writing, article writing, press release writing, and more requires a certain level of expertise and experience. Persisting With Bulldog Determination Persisting With Bulldog Determination [Book excerpt from Successercising}by Rick Gettle © 2003-2004 Become the Writer You Always Dreamed of Being So you want to be a writer, except you don't know where to begin. Heck you can't even think of something to write about let alone how you're going to get paid for writing. Maybe you have gotten over those humps but can't figure out why you're not a successful, awarding winning writer yet. Well, here are several tips to get you through all of those problems and then some. Become an Instant Author by Playing Well with Others You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh wait, are you one of the people who still hasn't done one yet? Not to worry. This is not leading up to any kind of guilt trip for you. This article is going in a completely different direction. Stay with me on this. Top 7 Writers Sites for 2005 If you dream of turning your book into a best seller, or you're looking to become a best selling author in your field, then these sites promise to help you do just that. To Transcribe or Not To Transcribe Interviews? 11 Secrets from an Experienced Interviewer Becoming A Successful Author: The Price! So you want to be a successful author? You want to be up there withBrown, Archer, King, but what price are you prepared to pay? You might be lucky and your first book could be an overnight success but the chances are you'll be hacking it for years before success knocks.
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |
