Writing for the Web: Creating Compelling Web Content Using Words, Pictures and Sound

✍ Scribed by Felder, Lynda

• Publisher: New Riders Publishing; Pearson Education (US)
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 194
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

WithWriting for the Web, you'll learn everything you need to know to create effective Web content using words, pictures, and sound. Follow along as instructor and writer Lynda Felder combines easy-to-follow guidelines with photographs, lists, and tables to illustrate the key concepts behind writing nonlinear, interactive stories; creating succinct and clear copy; and working compelling images, motion graphics, and sound into your content.

Many books offer instruction on how to use software programs to build Web sites, podcasts, and illustrations. But onlyWriting for the Webexplains when and why an author might choose an illustration over a photograph, motion graphics over text, or a slice of Beethoven's Fifth over the sound of a bubbling brook. Focusing on storytelling techniques that work best for digital media, this book describes the essential skills and tools in a Web author's toolbox, including a thorough understanding of grammar and style, a critical eye for photography, and an ear for just the right sound byte for a podcast.

This clearly written guide provides a fun and practical approach to Web writing that busy students and writers will be eager to learn and explore.
Uses concise, straight-to-the-point style to illustrate techniques for writing sharp and focused Web copy, coupled with compelling visuals and sound Focuses on writing practices and guidelines, with exercises and prompts developed and tested by the author Features clear design, with plenty of pictures and visual elements, and a friendly and knowledgeable voice Take your learning even further with Lynda's companion book:The Web Writer's Toolkit: 365 prompts, collaborative exercises, games, and challenges for effective online content.

For more tips, exercises, and suggestions for teachers, check out the book's Web site atwww.write4web.com.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents......Page 5
Start Here......Page 9
Chapter 1 All You Really Need to Know......Page 12
Messages, Messages, Messages......Page 13
Make Your Messages Rise Above the Din......Page 15
Who Is Your Audience?......Page 19
Challenges......Page 22
Up Next......Page 23
Chapter 2 Best Practices for Writing for the Web......Page 24
Use a Conversational Style......Page 25
Use Precise Terms......Page 27
Use Plain Terms......Page 28
List Items......Page 32
Keep Sentences Short......Page 33
Keep Paragraphs Short......Page 35
Chunk Information......Page 36
Organize for Your Audience......Page 38
Set the Right Tone......Page 39
Challenges......Page 40
Up Next......Page 41
Chapter 3 Working with Images......Page 42
Choose the Right Type of Image......Page 43
Keep the Message Clear......Page 46
Telling a Story......Page 49
Think of the Global Audience......Page 51
Challenges......Page 54
Up Next......Page 55
Chapter 4 Adding Motion......Page 56
Getting Started with Motion......Page 57
Developing the Story......Page 60
Guidelines for Video and Animation......Page 64
Challenges......Page 66
Up Next......Page 67
Chapter 5 Adding Sound......Page 68
Choosing Sounds......Page 69
Adding Sound Effects......Page 71
Planning a Podcast......Page 72
Recording Guidelines......Page 77
Interviewing Techniques......Page 78
Challenges......Page 81
Up Next......Page 82
Chapter 6 Writing Nonlinear, Interactive Stories......Page 84
Managing Content......Page 85
Adding Links......Page 86
Challenges......Page 91
Up Next......Page 93
Chapter 7 Writing Succinctly......Page 94
Stay Focused......Page 95
Choose Anglo-Saxon Words......Page 96
Eliminate Excess Words......Page 98
Stop Hype......Page 101
Up Next......Page 102
Chapter 8 Writing with Style and Good Grammar......Page 104
Choosing Your Style......Page 105
Grammar Rules......Page 111
Challenges......Page 116
Up Next......Page 117
Chapter 9 Telling a Good Story......Page 118
Story Elements......Page 119
Developing Stories......Page 120
Refine Your Senses......Page 121
Jump In......Page 122
Start with a Hook......Page 123
Add Cliff-hangers......Page 125
Challenges......Page 126
Up Next......Page 127
Chapter 10 A Refresher on the Rhetorical Modes......Page 128
Rhetorical Modes......Page 129
Rhetoric in Ancient Greece......Page 131
Making Web Content Credible......Page 132
Patterns and Strategies......Page 133
Images and Rhetoric......Page 136
Up Next......Page 137
Chapter 11 Writing Instructions......Page 138
Know Your Audience......Page 139
Begin with an Introduction......Page 142
Write Straightforward Steps......Page 144
Provide Illustrations......Page 147
Show Motion with Video or Animation......Page 149
Challenges......Page 150
Up Next......Page 151
Chapter 12 Writing Blogs......Page 152
What Exactly Is a Blog?......Page 153
Choosing Topics and Themes......Page 154
Composing a Succession of Stories......Page 156
Sustaining Readership......Page 159
Challenges......Page 162
Up Next......Page 163
Chapter 13 Re-vision......Page 164
Writing Is Rewriting......Page 165
Workshops and Critiques......Page 169
Challenges......Page 174
Up Next......Page 175
Chapter 14 Writing Practice......Page 176
Freewriting......Page 177
Collaborative Freewriting......Page 181
Suggested Exercises......Page 184
Bibliography......Page 186
E......Page 188
M......Page 189
S......Page 190
T......Page 191
X–Z......Page 192

✦ Subjects

Language;Writing;Nonfiction;Reference;Humanities;Computers;Internet