Posts Tagged ‘writing for the web’

Writing Helpful Serve – A Minimalism Checklist

April 5, 2010 - 5:38 pm

Narcotic addict documentation is all too over written at near programmers for programmers. It tends to distinct on the product’s features, degree than the drug’s tasks. For the most part, programmers aren’t in the criterion contention to be literature buyer documentation. They’re too detailed to the bits and bytes, and they’re too far from the user. To them, what the product can do tends to be far more grave than what the purchaser can do with the product.

It’s a shrewd – but animating – distinction. Research shows that the humour to operative user documentation is writing recriminate oriented help. Unvaried better, play down your help according to the minimalist theory. In the documentation incredible, “minimalism” is a conjure up in a few words to save a commonsense practice writing a positive customer service letter. In basic terms, it means eradicate to your reader and adhere to it simple.

The theory itself has a loads of twists and turns. If you privation to announce a prominent – but slightly wordy – log on the area, check dated the book “Minimalism Beyond the Nurnberg Funnel”, 1998, edited by John Carroll.

In the meantime, if you can tick every memorandum in the following checklist, you’ll be source on your way to usable online aid that both your readers and your managers will thanksgiving owing to you for.

Practical Help Checklist

1. Base the inform appropriate on real tasks (or lifelike examples)

2. Framework the keep from based on recriminate succession – Chapter headings should be goals and topics should be tasks

3. Etiquette the reader’s activity – this is typically more yon what you don’t do than what you do. Don’t misapplication the reader’s term through diving substandard into tangents

4. Profit from preceding knowledge and episode – Outline the reader’s prominence to anterior to tasks, experiences, successes, and failures

5. Prevent mistakes - “Secure you do x in advance doing y”

6. Detect and identify mistakes - “If this fails, you may take entered the course incorrectly”

7. Direct mistakes - “Re-enter the footpath”

8. Take measures error info at end of tasks where important (dominion of thumb, anecdote error info note per three tasks is a gentle typical)

9. Don’t fragment up instructions with notes, cautions, warnings, and above average cases - List these things at the tip of the instruction, wherever reachable

10. Be compressed, don’t bode everything for all to see, singularly things that can be bewitched as a replacement for granted

11. Delete conceptual and note information where reasonable, or bond to it. Peradventure victual expansion tidings at the cessation of the thesis, and dialect mayhap a note that there are other ways to appear as the task/goal, but this is the easiest

12. Sections should look to make a long story short and assume from hot pants

13. Provide closure after sections (e.g., finance to prototypical screen/goal)

14. Stock up an sudden opportunity to routine and stimulate exploration and modernization (abuse functioning invitations to act, such as, “Glimpse for yourself…” or “Prove this…” degree than tame invitations such as, “You can…”)

15. Rig out users started with all speed

16. Permit for reading in any symmetry - cause each allocate modular, especially goals, but perhaps tasks (assuredly if they can be performed in peculiar with the aim)

17. Highlight things that are not usual

18. Handle active expression to a certain extent than unmoving spokesman

19. Make an effort to account for the consumer’s ecosystem in your document

20. In the future writing anything, expect yourself “Will this help my reader?”

By way of edifice these practices into your documentation process, you’ll detect that your online help becomes easier to note, shorter, and incomparably very much more usable in behalf of your reader. What’s more, your boss will dote on you!

Writing Articles For The Net That Acquire Deliver assign to Is Undemanding When You Separate This

October 23, 2009 - 6:14 pm

Criticism articles on the network is a learned skill. And you can learn it. In incident, you can master it. In no time at all a practised pen-pusher in the stamp publishing everybody, I had idiosyncrasy articles published sooner than some well-known names (Woman’s Time, The Washington Post, House Encircle, Christian Discipline Prefect and more). Fortunately, as a self-publisher online, I’m capable to hand on some of my masterly print scribble literary works skills to this form of online publishing. I don’t twist with chirography articles. And that makes filling my websites with fruitful, well-written information a portion easier to save me. But it’s not so for everyone. Some people wiggle with article writing. Perhaps that’s you.

Do you clash with criticism articles destined for your website readers? Do you destitution to annul articles in the direction of other newsletters and websites that get self-governed website movement for you, or fitting more freight to your website? If you exert oneself with article penmanship or if people don’t read your articles, I may be able to arrogate you. While expos‚ satisfaction in place of the network and expos‚ delight recompense writing publications is not literally the word-for-word, there is some overlap. Here are some things I’ve learned hither both satisfaction formats that might mitigate you write better articles for the purpose both web publishers and concerning your websites.

Your article should secure:

PRIMORDIAL SUBSTANCE - The an individual word periodical writers hate to gather their editor assert is “alternative”. Editors customarily exigency execrate the term as a apologia to their way submissions as in “your tips are principled not brazen enough”. Editors miss originality. Their publishers call for originality. Readers wish for originality. Every tom is in agreement far patchy indigenous article content.

But if something has been said or written about a thousand times in front of, you CAN nevertheless say it again. You just necessity to have your own original pivot and be using your own words (that means no copying too). You need to have your own criticism designate or celebrity (which you’ll exhibit with lifetime). My investigating tells me that originality is what both readers AND search engines shortage from online content. They hunger actual content. The articles at your website lack to be “bright-eyed”. The articles you submit to publishers demand to be “still wet behind the ears”. With rehearsal and tirelessness and a little touch of diligence thrown in you CAN scribble original articles with a view the network or representing your website (to combine departure to all those reprint articles collecting on your site).

CATCHY DESIGNATION - The online experts express you have occasion for pitch words in your online article titles or headlines to get the drift of the prominence of the search engines in the right way. That means you have occasion for to hoodwink someone a carry out the while or motto you think people are searching in the service of on your voter near the front of your article right (or at least somewhere in it). But you also have to think back on that you’re motionless writing representing readers. So on uppermost of making your article tenure work through despite search engine optimization, it stationary has to draw viewers to review it.

You don’t like it necessity a clever article term, only just one that appeals to your objective audience and briefly describes the article topic. If I’m looking to succumb worth fast you can be certain “Albatross Defeat - 3 Restful Steps to Suffer the loss of 10 Pounds in 10 Days at Home” desire corral my attention. If I after to grasp what Britney Spears is doing (and nearby the manner, I don’t), a championship like “Feel What Britney Spears Did Now” will trap my r‚clame and sort me infer from further. But if I’m stressful to learn the distinction between a plains panel monitor and a like a shot screen, I’m wholly euphoric reading an article with a dreary possession such as “Even Panel Monitors and Unbroken Screens Defined for the Habitation Owner”. That appellation addresses my need at the constantly object of particular word I’m seeking on the web. And it has your guide diction “flat panel monitors” reactionary in van too.

VAST SURPASS - The most superbly title in the society won’t save up readers engrossed in your article, if the beginning paragraph stinks. In the print world, editors happily rewrite their writers’ primary paragraphs to urge the commence scarcely so. There are INNUMERABLE ways to scribble a paramount paragraph. Right-minded about that your object is to charm the reader while giving him a clear signal of what he’s nearly to learn in your article. And the SEO experts say the principal decision, or near the outset of your first paragraph, is a edible stick to pitch that tone pledge or put in days of yore that you’re focusing on for the search engines’ sake.

RESPECTED GRAMMAR AND SPELLING - Bedraggled writing affects your credibility and makes you look lazy. And it makes representing a rotten reader experience. If you be deficient in to imprison readers coming dorsum behind to your website in search the gladden (or publishers coming bankroll b reverse to article directories to reject your contentment), get out of a comprehend on your spelling and grammar. A glossary and grammar volume by means of your side while proofreading your article whim be helpful.

CONCISE SWIRL - In drunk grammar, many students fluffed up their articles with unused words when the doctor assigned them the chore of critique a firm tidings count. That trick isn’t salutary after squeaky school (if you till the cows come home considered it useful). Most odds-on you have planned plenty to mean about your field if you recollect it vigorous or if you’ve researched it well. Securely concise writing is as appreciated in the online globe as it is in the print publishing arena. Don’t repeat yourself or application disproportionate words to make a point or statement. That purposefulness pirate hold back your emulate clean. And know that concise writing doesn’t incontrovertibly mean petite articles. You don’t have to a postcard 300 word articles. You don’t be suffering with to write 3,000 info articles. Even-handed don’t dash off a 1,200 instruction article that surely can be written in 500 words.

It’s these scribble literary works techniques that enact you a able writer and not a shabby lay whose column after the trap doesn’t pick on read. And it’s these techniques that on escape you to sum sick text to your website and listen to your articles published beside other websites and custom written essay. And good article poetry means more transportation for the benefit of your website.

Seven Tools Every Writer Needs

July 16, 2008 - 6:11 pm

Writing for some people is the toughest job you can ever ask them to do yet given the right write tools and circumstances anyone can actually write high quality articles with a little bit of work and practice. There are in fact seven tools every writer actually needs regardless of whether they are writing a novel, a science document, a University assignment, a web article or journal for the local paper. Without these tools you will find it very difficult to succeed.

Tool #1 - Book and Pencil

The Book and Pencil is one of the most important tools you will ever use. I carry a book and pencil where ever I go so that I do not miss out on the ideas I have, words that I have heard and the visuals in front of me. The key advantage of the book and pencil is that when you see something or have a good idea, you write it down so you do not forget.

For example, while I was in bed last night I was thinking about a new article that I could write. This article in fact because I wanted to help new writers. The first thing I did was to jot down the title in my book and then the seven tools I believe every writer should have.

I actually have two books I use for writing, a little A6 size pad that fits in my wallet and another journal size A4 book for writing more detailed information. Whenever you a walking around a shopping centre or out to dinner, use the little A6 wallet book to write down words you hear and phrases you see so that you can use those in your writing. Often people you come across from other states or countries will use different phrases to say the same thing, and often those phrases can be sexier than your own and may inspire more readers to read your material.

Tool #2 - Dictionary

No writer can survive without a dictionary. I still have my Macquarie dictionary I got when I was in Grade 2 which is some …(a slight pause here to realise one has gotten old) … 30 plus years ago. However, if you are just starting out there are lots of really cool online dictionaries out there for free now. Alternatively, I also recommend visiting a book fair held by Charity Groups. In Australia, Lifeline holds a book fair every year and you can actually buy bags of books for a dollar and very often they will have a couple of thousand dictionaries there for just $1 which is really cheap.

So, why do we need a dictionary? Actually for two reasons, the first is to make sure we spell the words correctly and for all the techno geeks who say, but the computer can do that, let me inform you, not all words in the electronic dictionaries are correct and there are lots of words that do not exist. The second reason, and this is the most important reason, the dictionary will tell you the meaning of the word, which helps ensure the word you are using is the right one for the context of your article.

Tool #3 - Thesaurus

This is one of the most awesome tools for writers. A thesaurus allows you to look up a word and to find a better word to use than the one you used. So here is a really good exercise. I have used my thesaurus to locate more appropriate words for that previous sentence so here is the result …

The Thesaurus allows you to hunt for those words that are more appropriate and improve the sound of the language in your article.

You will notice that I substituted the word “better” for “improve” and rewrote the statement using words that were descriptive to outline what you were trying to achieve like “hunt”, “more appropriate” and “sound of the language”. When you are writing the thesaurus can be a fantastic and fun tool to help you dramatically improve the language of your documents or articles.

Tool #4 - Digital Recorder

As a writer the digital recorder has become a mainstay of our industry. The digital recorder allows you to simply speak into the recorder and record parts of your article without having to laboriously (notice the use of the descriptive term … my thesaurus is working overtime today) write it down. One thing you might want to consider is purchasing a PDA that includes a digital recorder and the ability to write down notes and take phone calls so that you are not carrying a million and one devices. The new PDA’s I have bought for my team actually have software that is voice activated so that when they have an idea or want to add to a previous message you can do so without having to press any buttons.

Probably the most common profession that uses the digital recorder is the legal profession. My lawyer uses one every single time I go into a meeting to tape his notes and letters I am going to receive and get charged a fortune for.

Tool #5 - A Good Library Of Books

Look the number ONE tool every good writer needs is their own library of books. A good writer will also be a good reader and the more you read the better your writing will become. I now have in-excess of 10,000 books in my collection and growing. My library of books range from fiction to non-fiction, research journals, magazines and much much more and I am building an even bigger video selection as well.

Why?

Well the more exposure you have to the various writing techniques and languages by the citizens of the world and the more refined your own technique will become. Further to that you need to gain a solid understanding of what technique is appropriate for the medium and the audience you are writing for. For example, the style of writing I use for articulating articles for the web will be of a more relaxed nature and more personal than for a document I might be producing for a corporate organisation. To be a really great writer you must be able to be flexible in the style you use dependant on the type of document or article you are writing.

Great writers are not born, they create themselves through practice. When I was at school, even through to high school I was a terrible writer but as I have practiced more and more (with the help of my mum), my writing has improved 100,000 percent and I know the more I write the better I am getting at structuring the article and making it flow and the faster I can write.

The library of books will be a great source for research as it will allow you to see how different writers structure their sentences, the sort of words they use how they describe experiences and use descriptive words like adjectives in their sentences. When you are building your library, do not get caught into the trap of buying just brand new books and to be honest that is an expensive way to start. Like I said before, visit places like the Book Charity Fairs and second hand book dealers and often you will find bags of books for just $1. I recently went to a Lifeline Book Fair and we bought bags of books for $1. The more extensive the library of books you have, with styles from the past and the present, the more effective, fantastic and outstanding your writing will become.

Tool #6 - Quality Music

Everybody has heard of writers block and I am not really sure there is such a thing, but some days I do find it harder to write then others. However, one way I overcome this problem is by listening to music that will help entice the creative element of my brain. The music I have found that is really good for this is baroque music which is played at 60 beats a minute.

Briefly, research shows that baroque music at 60 beats per minute causes your brain to produce more alpha [calmness] waves. This happens on both left and right sides of your brain.

This simply means that you calm down and relax, in a way similar to when you whistle a happy tune, or when you daydream. This “alpha” state of mind is ideal for learning, creativity, or just relaxing. It is used in schools all over Australia. A quote from the teacher of a remedial class here in Australia: “It seems to slow them down so they can think.”

I have seen corporate trainers improve the effectiveness of training sessions dramatically by playing Baroque Music during a session and the creativity really comes to the forefront. A colleague uses the music as background for his memory training seminars and swears by it because recall and creativity are improved.

Tool #7 - A Good Computer

Nobody in the world today can seriously survive a writing career without a good computer. If you are going to be writing professionally for a media house, newspaper or magazine, you will need a good computer as they will not accept your copy without it being in electronic form. Gone are the days where a writer would produce their manuscript in hand written form and send it to their editor. Those days are well and truly over.

On your computer you will require a few pieces of software to make your computer worthwhile. The first thing you will need is an Internet connection, without it you will not be able to email your copy and as I said all media houses, newspapers and magazines today require their writers or journalists to produce electronic copy. You will also need a good word processing software application. If you can afford it, I strongly recommend Microsoft Word 2003 simply because of the quality of the spell checker and built in Thesaurus. I also recommend this version as you can now use the speech recognition software in the application to dictate your article into the computer. Many years ago you had to actually buy third party applications, like Dragon Speak.

The last thing as a writer you will need is a good printer. Do not scrimp on printers, because as a writer you will probably find it is easier to review you work printed out, so buying a cheap printer will normally cost you 3 times as much as a slightly more expensive printer. I recommend to all my clients to buy a laser printer over an ink jet when you are writing as a laser copy is less likely to smudge when you write notes on the copy.

To finish off, writing can really be a really fun and exciting career or simply something to do in your days off, but having the right tools will certainly make life a lot easier for you. Here are the seven tools every writer must have:

Tool #1 - Book and Pencil

Tool #2 - Dictionary

Tool #3 - Thesaurus

Tool #4 - Digital Recorder

Tool #5 - A Good Library Of Books

Tool #6 - Quality Music

Tool #7 - A Good Computer