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
maide service in Park Ridge ..A QUERY LETTER is written to an editor or agent... Read More
Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
1. Write it fast, fix it later.2. Commit to writing... Read More
Interesting characters that readers care about are the most important... Read More
In most aspects of business, we will be expected to... Read More
The first five pages of a novel are critical.Editors make... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
In one of the exercises in my "Getting Started as... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them... Read More
As a previous article ("Making Better Word Choices ? 4... Read More
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very... Read More
Becoming an author is probably a lot easier than you... Read More
Writing is a personal and introspective process. To share with... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
You may wonder why I have chosen this title of... Read More
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More
Obtaining the skills for writing good business correpondence is important;... Read More
Before you even begin writing your novel, you need to... Read More
Writing technical articles is a challenge. There you sit, surrounded... Read More
Concision. (Sounds like I made up another word.) It's the... Read More
after renovation cleaning Highland Park ..Writing is a personal and introspective process. To share with... Read More
ESSAY 2Andre Malraux once said that what interested him in... Read More
If you either want to write a book to help... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
Yes, you know your subject. You also need to think... Read More
IntroductionSince our early days of elementary education we have been... Read More
I am sure that at in some era, at some... Read More
There are so many ways for writers to make good... Read More
Do you know what a query letter is? If so,... Read More
Everone knows that comedy is mostly about timing. If you... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
For several years before I left teaching to write full... Read More
Boost Brain Power Through WritingHave you ever noticed what happens... Read More
Writers often get stuck because they make assumptions about writing,... Read More
You may not remember this, but in the early days... Read More
Most of us hate housework.Nevertheless, even the most hopeless slobs... Read More
As a student of Spanish, my goal was to think... Read More
What to do when you get rejected.You've just finished your... Read More
The Big IdeaOkay. So youve figured out that you would... Read More
A friend and I were talking the other day about... Read More
PASSED, PASTPassed is the past tense of pass. Past means... Read More
1. Use Logic: Check for External PressuresAre you under physical... Read More
I'm in the process of moving from one computer to... Read More
Writing |