Writing for Multimedia and the Web: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media

The completely updated third edition of Writing for Multimedia and the Web provides a step-by-step explanation of how to create powerful content for interactive media.

Major additions include: greatly expanded coverage of the Web, new case studies, and tips on building an interactive writing career. The book's clear writing style and extensive examples make it suitable for beginning and experienced writers, developers, and designers.

Part I, “Interactive Media and the Writer,” examines the demands that multimedia and the Web make on the writer, including interactive architecture, writing for multiple media, organizational tools, and script formatting. Parts II and III, “Writing Informational Multimedia and Websites” and “Writing Interactive Narrative,” are devoted to in-depth case studies of a wide variety of projects, ranging from Websites, to training, to games. In these case studies, top writers and designers for multimedia and the Web reveal their secrets for creating effective programs. Part IV, “Interactive Writing Careers,” provides tips on becoming a professional interactive writer.

The companion CD-ROM includes script samples, site maps, screen shots, program demos, production information, links to software, and a video on the creation of a multimedia program. Key elements updated and retained from the first two editions include: clear explanation of the demands of interactivity and multimedia on the writer, practical tips useful to the interactive writer, such as formatting and software, detailed case studies of classic programs in all major types of multimedia: games, training, education, advertising, interactive movies, and Web sites, in depth interviews from the creators of successful multimedia programs, extensive script samples, screen shots, and flowcharts, and CD-ROM packed with video, software, scripts, demos, background, and reference material.

Highlights:

• Writing a corporate web site
• Creating blogs and podcasts
• Web writing tips from usability experts
• Optimizing text for web search engines
• Defining the user with use cases and user scenarios
• Dealing with web editors
• Software for organizing and writing interactive media content
• Script formats for all types of multimedia and web projects
• Case studies explain real-life lessons and professional savvy through the experiences of interactive writing pros
• The first-time glossary provides a quick-and-easy way to learn essential web writer lingo