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[[Web_Based_Digital_Media_for_College_Writing_Students|Home Page]]
[[Web_Based_Digital_Media_for_College_Writing_Students|Home Page]]


When writing for any type of media, whether it be traditional print or online, there is generally a basic standard the writer must adhere to if the writer wants people to read. In web based digital media, “good writing” has a typically higher standard than traditional print. That standard varies depending on what is being written about. No matter the standard, though, the most important thing to keep in mind for all good writing is to keep the readers interested. That starts from the moment a potential reader clicks on the page to the end of the article.
When writing for any type of media, whether it be traditional print or online, there is generally a basic standard the writer must adhere to if the for attracting readers. In web based digital media, “good writing” typically has a higher standard than traditional print. Though the standard varies, the most important thing to keep in mind is to keep readers interested from the moment a potential reader clicks on the page.




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====Be Brief====
====Be Brief====
Readers of the web read 25% slower than when reading a newspaper, so they will not be attracted by a long works on the web. They want information quickly and if they don’t get it quick enough, it’s only a click of the back button and pressing the next search result in Google to find exactly what they want quickly.  
Readers of the web read 25% slower than when reading a newspaper, so they will not be attracted by a long works on the web. If information is not retrieved quickly, it’s only a click of the back button and pressing the next search result in Google to find exactly what they want.  
====Be concise====
====Be concise====
Writers shouldn't try to show how intelligent they are by using inventive sentence structure or waste words on long introduction. If they a writer doesn't get to the point, they risk losing a potential reader.
Writers shouldn't try to show how intelligent they are by using inventive sentence structure or waste words on long introduction. If a writer doesn't get to the point, they risk losing a potential reader.
====Be Precise====
====Be Precise====
"Say what you mean and mean what you say." If a shorter word will do, use it!
Say what you mean and mean what you say. "Use the precise word that your meaning requires, not one that is close or, worse, one that sounds close." <ref>Carroll, Brian. "On Writing Well." [http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Digital-Media-Brian-Carroll/dp/041599201X Writing for Digital Media]. New York, NY: Routledge, 2010. 8. Print.</ref>
 
====Be Direct====
====Be Direct====
Writing for the digital media isn’t poetry. No one wants to have to try to interpret writing on the web. The same goes for ambiguity. Only leave opinion up to the reader. Otherwise just write what is meant and don’t try to be suspenseful about it.
Writing for digital media isn’t poetry. No one wants to interpret ambiguous web writing. Allow readers to form their own opinion, but don;t be suspenseful about it.
====Be Consistent====
====Be Consistent====
Consistency applies to mechanics and style. Sentence structures should be parallel and whether using the oxford comma is right or wrong, the use of it or not should be consistent. It makes the writer more reliable and helps the reader to begin to distinguish the style of the writer.
Consistency applies to mechanics and style. Pick a verb tense and stick to it. Make sure sentence are parallel. Use the oxford comma or don't use it. This gives the writer credibility and helps the reader to distinguish the style of the writer.  
==Stylistic Advice==
==Stylistic Advice==
====Voice<ref>Understanding Voice[http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/understanding-voice-and-tone-in-writing.aspx]</ref>====
====Voice<ref>Wildhaber, Julie. "Understanding Voice and Tone in Writing." Grammar Girl. July 1 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.[http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/understanding-voice-and-tone-in-writing.aspx]</ref>====
Just like when a person answers the phone and they recognize the sound of someone’s voice, the same applies to writing. Writing has to have voice and much of that depends on word choice, sentence structure etc. The voice in writing can mean the difference between sounding like a twelve-year-old girl and a strict fifty-year-old English Teacher. Voice also conveys authority and [[expertise]].
Just like a person answers the phone and they recognize the sound of someone’s voice, readers can recognize way a writer writes. Voice usually depends on word choice, sentence structure, etc. A writer's voice can mean the difference between sounding like a twelve-year-old girl and a strict fifty-year-old English Teacher. Voice also conveys authority and [[expertise]].


====Imagination====
====Imagination====
Being imaginative does not mean to try to be like Chaucer who didn’t like spelling the same word the same way twice. It also doesn’t mean to open the thesaurus and find big fancy words for simple words. What it does mean is to approach the topic from a different angle. For instance a blogger wants to talk about their favorite movies. Well, there are plenty of movies that do that but a different approach would be to take favorite movies and compare it to something the reader wouldn’t expect; For example, Lion King and “Rappuccini’s Daughter.”
Being imaginative does not mean to be like Chaucer, who didn’t like spelling a word the same way twice. It also doesn’t mean to open the thesaurus and find big fancy words for simple words. What it does mean is to approach the topic from a different angle. For instance, a blogger wants to talk about their favorite movies. Well, there are plenty of movies that do that but a different approach would be to take favorite movies and compare it to something the reader wouldn’t expect; For example, ''The Lion King'' and “Rappuccini’s Daughter.”
====Audience====
 
Who is the writing talking to? Just like people have different ways to talk to their parents, friends, or professors, writing has that same distinction depending on the audience. Writing about Jane Eyre for thirteen-year-olds who just read the book and a group of English majors in college who probably read the book at least twice is going to give two completely different articles.
====Audience/Identifcation<ref>Hale, Steven. "Choosing and Writing for an Audience." GPC.edu. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.[http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~shale/humanities/composition/handouts/audience.html]</ref>====  
Who is the writer talking to? Just like people have different ways to talk to their parents, friends, or professors, writing has that same distinction depending on the [[identification]]. Writing about Jane Eyre for thirteen-year-olds who just read the book and a group of English majors in college, who probably read the book at least twice, is going to give two completely different articles.
 
==Revising==
==Revising==


Revising<ref>Revising [http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/05/]</ref> is probably harder and more important than the actual writing to begin with because it’s during the revision process that the writing process truly begins. During this stage, not only is the author proofreading their work, but its during this stage that the author decides that maybe there are more ideas that can be incorporated, but most importantly revising is the time to cut baggage that makes the writing weaker or less appealing.  
Revising<ref>"College of Arts and Sciences." Revising Drafts. UNC, College of Arts and Sciences. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. [http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/revising-drafts/]</ref> is one of the most important part of writing. During this stage the author can consider cutting baggage that makes the writing weaker or consider adding content that makes the writing stronger.  


====Revision Tips====
====Revision Tips====


*Read it Aloud. Be aware of awkward sentences, typos etc…
*Read it Aloud. Be aware of awkward sentences, typos, etc.


*Kill your Darlings! Anything that might be salvageable, save in another word document.
*Kill your Darlings! Anything that might be salvageable, save in another word document.
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*Check for clichés
*Check for clichés


*Adverbs are the enemy! Cut them out
*Adverbs and adjectives are the enemy! Cut them out


*Avoid redundancy!
*Avoid redundancy!


*Take out the passive tense! That means no helping verbs.
*Don't use passive tense! That means no helping verbs.


*Be aware or Plagiarism! Ignorance is not an excuse!<ref>Plagiarism [http://www.plagiarism.org]</ref>
*Be aware of Plagiarism! Ignorance is not an excuse!<ref>"What Is Plagiarism?" Plagiarism. Web. 5 Dec. 2012 [http://plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/what-is-plagiarism/]</ref>


==Other Points to Consider==
==Other Points to Consider==
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*[http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-for-online-readers/ Tips for Web Writing]
*[http://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-for-online-readers/ Tips for Web Writing]
*[http://www.authorhouseselfpublishing.com/authorhouse/writing-tips/your-writing-style-1 Finding Your Style]
*[http://www.authorhouseselfpublishing.com/authorhouse/writing-tips/your-writing-style-1 Finding Your Style]
* ''Carroll, Brian''.[http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Digital-Media-Brian-Carroll/dp/041599201X Writing for Digital Media]

Latest revision as of 11:47, 5 December 2012

Home Page

When writing for any type of media, whether it be traditional print or online, there is generally a basic standard the writer must adhere to if the for attracting readers. In web based digital media, “good writing” typically has a higher standard than traditional print. Though the standard varies, the most important thing to keep in mind is to keep readers interested from the moment a potential reader clicks on the page.


General Advice

Be Brief

Readers of the web read 25% slower than when reading a newspaper, so they will not be attracted by a long works on the web. If information is not retrieved quickly, it’s only a click of the back button and pressing the next search result in Google to find exactly what they want.

Be concise

Writers shouldn't try to show how intelligent they are by using inventive sentence structure or waste words on long introduction. If a writer doesn't get to the point, they risk losing a potential reader.

Be Precise

Say what you mean and mean what you say. "Use the precise word that your meaning requires, not one that is close or, worse, one that sounds close." [1]

Be Direct

Writing for digital media isn’t poetry. No one wants to interpret ambiguous web writing. Allow readers to form their own opinion, but don;t be suspenseful about it.

Be Consistent

Consistency applies to mechanics and style. Pick a verb tense and stick to it. Make sure sentence are parallel. Use the oxford comma or don't use it. This gives the writer credibility and helps the reader to distinguish the style of the writer.

Stylistic Advice

Voice[2]

Just like a person answers the phone and they recognize the sound of someone’s voice, readers can recognize way a writer writes. Voice usually depends on word choice, sentence structure, etc. A writer's voice can mean the difference between sounding like a twelve-year-old girl and a strict fifty-year-old English Teacher. Voice also conveys authority and expertise.

Imagination

Being imaginative does not mean to be like Chaucer, who didn’t like spelling a word the same way twice. It also doesn’t mean to open the thesaurus and find big fancy words for simple words. What it does mean is to approach the topic from a different angle. For instance, a blogger wants to talk about their favorite movies. Well, there are plenty of movies that do that but a different approach would be to take favorite movies and compare it to something the reader wouldn’t expect; For example, The Lion King and “Rappuccini’s Daughter.”

Audience/Identifcation[3]

Who is the writer talking to? Just like people have different ways to talk to their parents, friends, or professors, writing has that same distinction depending on the identification. Writing about Jane Eyre for thirteen-year-olds who just read the book and a group of English majors in college, who probably read the book at least twice, is going to give two completely different articles.

Revising

Revising[4] is one of the most important part of writing. During this stage the author can consider cutting baggage that makes the writing weaker or consider adding content that makes the writing stronger.

Revision Tips

  • Read it Aloud. Be aware of awkward sentences, typos, etc.
  • Kill your Darlings! Anything that might be salvageable, save in another word document.
  • Check for clichés
  • Adverbs and adjectives are the enemy! Cut them out
  • Avoid redundancy!
  • Don't use passive tense! That means no helping verbs.
  • Be aware of Plagiarism! Ignorance is not an excuse![5]

Other Points to Consider

References

  1. Carroll, Brian. "On Writing Well." Writing for Digital Media. New York, NY: Routledge, 2010. 8. Print.
  2. Wildhaber, Julie. "Understanding Voice and Tone in Writing." Grammar Girl. July 1 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.[1]
  3. Hale, Steven. "Choosing and Writing for an Audience." GPC.edu. Web. 05 Dec. 2012.[2]
  4. "College of Arts and Sciences." Revising Drafts. UNC, College of Arts and Sciences. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. [3]
  5. "What Is Plagiarism?" Plagiarism. Web. 5 Dec. 2012 [4]

Helpful Books and Sites