How To Write for the Web

by: Glenn White
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

Numbers
More numbers
Still more numbers
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
editor@writetoinspire.com

How To Use Punctuation

by: Rumki Sen
The most common mistake people tend to make while writing is in the use of Punctuation. Wrong punctuation can damage the flow of ideas and change meaning, but properly used punctuation not only helps readers understand your meaning but also makes them engrossed in your writing. The following discussion is about some of the frequently misused punctuation marks and what actually their correct application should be.

Use of Apostrophe – Use an apostrophe to show possession, but never put apostrophe in case of possessive pronouns. Always remember that when the word “it’s” is used, it is actually for the contraction for the two words: “it has” or “it is”. On the other hand, “its” is a possessive pronoun, and the word being already possessive should not contain an apostrophe in it.

Example

It’s the same thing happening over and over again.
(Contraction of It and is: It is the same thing happening over and over again).

Wrong: That car is your’s.

Right: That car is yours.

Note: Rewriting is sometimes the solution for an awkward possessive.

Awkward: A friend of mine’s cap.

Better: A friend’s cap (or the cap of a friend of mine).

To show possession in the case of singular nouns, add ’s, and for plural words that end in s, add only an apostrophe. Don’t forget to put ’s with plural words not ending in s.

Example

Singular: nurse’s uniform

Plural: nurses’ uniforms (plural word ending in s)

Plural: children’s uniforms (plural word not ending in s)

Use of Comma – Use commas to separate three or more items in a list. Though journalists most of the times omit the final comma before the word “and”, but retaining the final comma avoids confusion.

Example

Poor: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online, the woman who daily eats 45 eggs and Tom Cruise.

Better: In this website, you can read articles about how to do business online, the woman who daily eats 45 eggs, and Tom Cruise.

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions.

Example

Wrong: I am not good in writing but I love writing.

Wrong: I am not good in writing, but, I love writing.

Right: I am not good in writing, but I love writing.

Note: If the clauses are long and already contain commas, separate them with a semicolon rather than a comma.

Wrong: If a man begins with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties. – Francis Bacon

Right: If a man begins with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties. – Francis Bacon

Run-on sentences – Where Run-on sentences are concerned (in case you don’t know what it is, a run-on occurs when two independent clauses are not separated by punctuation or conjunction), add a period, or a semi colon, or a comma in places of separation.

Example

Wrong: A good student can score full marks in Mathematics it’s his analytical ability that will help him achieve that.

Right: A good student can score full marks in Mathematics. It’s his analytical ability that will help him achieve that.

Use of Quotation Marks – Use quotation marks to indicate direct quotation.

Example

“That guy knows me,” Mr. Wong said, “very well.”

Note: Never use it for indirect quotation (a restatement of someone’s words).

According to Mr. Wong, that guy knows him very well.

Use single quotation marks to indicate a quote within a quote.

Example

Wrong: Richard wrote, “When Berkeley said, “esse est percipii”, he meant that the existence of a thing consists in its being perceived.”

Right: Richard wrote, “When Berkeley said, ‘esse est percipii,’ he meant that the existence of a thing consists in its being perceived.”

Note: Always put the comma and final period inside the quotation marks, and put other punctuation marks outside unless they are part of the thing being quoted.

There are many other frequently used punctuation errors, but the above-discussed ones are those I have mostly encountered in several writings. Before putting punctuation marks in your sentences, always ask yourself what meaning you want to convey to the readers. Accordingly, put the marks. In case the sentence becomes difficult to punctuate, consider rewriting it, because when a sentence is well written, it almost punctuates itself.

About The Author

Rumki Sen is the founder of Perfect Editing Solutions (www.perfectediting.com), a professional firm providing a Proofreading and Copyediting service to websites and online documents. She corrects and edits English grammar, punctuation, spelling, links and a lot more for mainly websites, letters, applications, CVs / resumes, advertisements, manuals, brochures, e-newsletters, articles and e-mail messages. Her company also offers resume-writing services. Whether you’re a student, webmaster, or business owner, your written work will be improved immediately after you get her company’s service. Contact Rumki Sen at rumki@perfectediting.com.

How To Overcome The Lyric Writing Hurdles That Are Keeping You Behind

by: Mantius Cazaubon
The lyric writing side of songwriting is known to create an enormous number of problems for some folks. No matter how hard they try, they are unable to write a single line that they can be pleased with.

In many cases these very same people make phenomenal advancements in writing music and melodies. However they just can’t seem to figure out how to come up with suitable lyrics to match them.

If you are facing such a situation, there’s probably no need to worry. By taking certain appropriate steps you should be able to overcome lyric writing hurdles and write songs that deliver.

(1) Here are some essential ideas for overcoming these hurdles.

1. Collaboration

If you’re very good at writing melodies but can’t seem to write a single line, one solution might be collaboration. Instead of beating your head against the wall for ideas, find someone who is very good at writing lyrics and work together. You may be surprised at the wonders that can emanate from a combination of his excellence at writing lyrics and your brilliance at writing melodies.

2. Lyric writing tools

Perhaps you may be hoping for some other solution. While you don’t mind the idea of collaboration, you want to allow yourself to get better at writing lyrics, instead of leaving it to someone else.

As far as I’m concerned, the importance of laying hold on good songwriting “tools” should never be underestimated. Educate yourself as much as you can. Make use of songwriting books, programs, courses, software, articles or whatever valuable resources that you have at your disposal.

3. Motivation

You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times … Without motivation, you won’t go very far. This also applies to your lyric writing. While the songwriting “tools” outlined above can help you improve, without adequate motivation failure is inevitable.

(2) Here are a few tips to help you generate lyric writing ideas.

1. Use different lyrics to bring the same message across.

Choose a theme which is known to have made a few hits. What message does this theme bring across? Write different lyrics that bring the same message across. A typical example of this is John Denver’s “I’m Leaving on a Jetplane” and Wyclef Jean’s “Gone till November”. These songs made hits in different eras. Their basic message was similar … Baby, you don’t need to cry because I’ll return.

2. Add a unique twist to a cliche.

Turn on your radio and you will hear cliches being repeated over and over. Using these very same cliches is simply a futile exercise. My suggestion is to add a unique twist to these cliches. This is something I am focusing on more and more.

A typical example of adding a unique twist to a cliche is found in Dianne Warren’s “Unbreak my Heart” made popular by Toni Braxton. The ever popular cliche, “break my heart”, was twisted.

(3) Here are three lyric writing suggestions.

1. Write a song about a particular incident. Your song should tell a story.

2. Write lyrics that have absolutely nothing to do with anything you’ve actually experienced.

3. Get lyric writing ideas from newspapers, magazines, movies, TV and so on.

Overcoming lyric writing hurdles involves a lot of determination, hard work and perseverance on your part. Implement the suggestions presented above and move one step closer to lyric writing success.

About The Author

Mantius Cazaubon offers lots of valuable songwriting tips, techniques, suggestions and advice on his site http://www.ultimatesongwriting.com. Visit http://www.ultimatesongwriting.com for the ultimate truth about lyric writing and songwriting.
mantius@ultimatesongwriting.com