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How to write for our website
Learn the craft of good writing for the Web, and how to structure your work for the BHS site.
Updated: 12/30/2007 2:48:58 PM
The Society's website is easier to manage and extend than ever before.
Virtually any author, anywhere, using familiar word processors such as Microsoft Word, can readily prepare content for the website, with little or no technical expertise. The most important implication of this is the speed-to-Web it offers: now, with little Web production effort, we can generate, maintain, edit and route vast amounts of knowledge among our members.
Match your writing to Web reading styles
Site visitors don't expect to read an academic treatise -- the nature of the Web is pointed toward casual, quick reads. Subsequently, good Web writing is characterized by
- Punchy, bulleted material
- Short paragraphs
- A narrative flow that offers multiple quick entry points.
- Strong, descriptive titles that offer value to the reader. Use action verbs and imperative voice that pull the reader to good work.
Good structure makes good Web publishing
Preparing your document for the Web is really little different from publishing it as hard-copy. You will want to write with clarity, make it easy for readers to navigate through the content, and provide many points of entry.
- Use headings to break apart content. Do not use font size, bold, all caps, etc. -- these are reserved for in-line styling. In Word, you apply a style by selecting text, and choosing FORMAT | STYLES or by using the Style selector box on the tool bar.
- Use Headings 2 and 3 -- almost anything requiring more levels may be too highly structured, and probably too long for a single Web story.
- Do not use Heading 1 -- that is reserved that for chapter breaks in longer-form publishing
- Avoid using fancy fonts, Text Art, font effects such as embossed, shadow, etc. These will be rendered as normal body text on the Web. You can use bold and italic for emphasis as required, but avoid ALL CAPS...
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