Writing for Multimedia and the Web, Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media [Paperback]

Timothy Garrand (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240808223 | ISBN-13: 978-0240808222 | Publication Date: August 4, 2006 | Edition: 3

Learning how to write for just one type of interactive media, such as web sites or games, is not enough! To be truly successful as an interactive writer or designer, you need to understand how to create content for all types of new media.

Writing for Multimedia and the Web is the most comprehensive guide available for interactive writing. It covers web sites, computer games, e-learning courses, training programs, immersive exhibits, and much more. Earlier editions have garnered rave reviews as a writing handbook for multimedia and web professionals, as well as a classroom text for interactive writing and design.

New Sections and Completely Updated Chapters:
*Writing a corporate web site: T. Rowe Price
*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
*Writing careers

*The 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
*Gain access to pro's personal views though reading first-person interviews with successful interactive designers and writers

Editorial Reviews

Review

Writing for Multimedia and the Web is essential reading for anyone who wants to work and create in these competitive arenas. Tim Garrand has created an incredibly useful 'bible' of case studies for this exploding electronic frontier.
-Matthew Costello, writer of the games: The 7th Guest, Just Cause, and Pirates of the Caribbean and co-creator of Zoog Disney, on TV and online.

Tim Garrand has done it again! This latest update of Writing for Multimedia and the Web includes all you need to know to get started as an interactive writer or improve your current skills. If you think it's just about good writing think again. Tim reveals how all forms of interactive writing are deeply linked to the design and flow of a game, web site or blog experience. A must read!
-David Riordan, Convergence Director - Random 1

A better title for this book might be, Writing for the 21st Century. When it comes to multimedia & the Web, Garrand not only provides a wealth of behind-the-scenes information on current products, but he makes clear that the written word-and its medium-appropriate manipulation-is responsible for their impact. Anyone considering a writing career should either get his book, or have access to a good time machine.
-Anne Collins-Ludwick, scriptwriter/producer for Nancy Drew PC games

Writing for Multimedia and the Web is excellent - the best reference I've seen on writing for both types of computer applications.
-James Carter, Ph.D, Harvard Universit

"Writing for Multimedia and the Web, is logically ordered, and clearly written with strong examples. It comes with solid CD-ROM supporting material. For those who have a solid grasp of their craft, but feel uncertain about about the world of media convergence, I recommend the Garrand book" -Bruce McKenna, Canadian Screenwriter


Garrand's Writing for Multimedia and the Web is the best textbook I've found for examining the theory and practice of multimedia writing. The text is straightforward, and the case studies and tolls facilitate student achievement. I've tried several other texts for my Writing and Multimedia course, but I always return to Garrand. His book sets the standard in the field.
-Michael Huntsberger, Ph,D., University of Oregon

Writing for Multimedia and the Web is really working well for a college course I teach titled, "Writing and Interactive Design." I have used the text for more than 5 years and it is the best book overall that I have seen that is a good balance of application an theory.
-Ken Lodge, Oregon Research Institute. Applied Computer Simulation Lab


Writing for Multimedia and the Web is the book for rank beginners and experienced professionals alike, for the neophyte student of the traditional media writers who want to expand their skills. Teachers will find it invaluable as a text and scholars will appreciate the way Garrand integrates theory with application. How can he accomplish so much for such a varied audience? With a smart balance of interviews, explanation, and examples. The novice can work his way through from the beginning, where Garrand, patiently supplies a succinct overview of the field, replete with definitions and an easy to understand description of where the media writer fits into this dizzying process. The veteran writer, on the other hand, will enjoy the first hand accounts and insights about approaches and processes from the numerous writers that Garrand interviewed for his book.
Tim Garrand's Writing for Multimedia and the Web continues to be the "must have" book for any writer, aspiring or otherwise, student or teacher interested in this burgeoning field.
-Dr. Gregg Bachman, Chair, Department of Communication,
The University of Tampa

Book Description

Take on interactive writing...become versatile for today's media!

Product Details

• Paperback: 478 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 3 edition (August 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240808223
• ISBN-13: 978-0240808222
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Complete Guide for Writing for the Web, September 8, 2006

By 

LFelder (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing for Multimedia and the Web, Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media (Paperback)

Timothy Garrand speaks with authority about the many challenges of designing and writing interactive media for the web and other multimedia programs. Writing for Multimedia and the Web serves as a practical guide for writers in the throes of this demanding work. Good writing skills are not enough, as Garrand both shows and tells. His book is packed with writing tips, case studies, and examples of the formats and genres a multimedia writer might tackle, including:
* Storyboards, flowcharts, and other design documents that can be effective to help clients, marketing, and production teams understand a project
* Instructional, video, game and story scripts
* Web sites and kiosks for corporations, marketing, e-learning and museums
* Blogs, podcasts, portals and more...
The best part of Garrand's book is that he follows his own advice, with clear titles and subtitles, lots of indexing, chunked information, and clear-cut paths for quickly finding topics. It's amazing how easily you can scan through the nearly 500 pages of text and the jam-packed CD to get to what you need to know. Additional resources are available for those brave enough to attempt teaching this topic.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A broad overview, college-level textbook, September 16, 2007

By 

Janice King "Author, "Copywriting That Se... (www.writinghightech.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing for Multimedia and the Web, Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media (Paperback)

As a broad overview of writing for web sites and interactive media products, this book covers all of the key topics (although briefly) for a student who wants to work in this field. The examples are extensive and well chosen, and often geared to the interests of young adults. But the book doesn't provide exercises or projects for learning specific skills. Readers will want to supplement this book with other resources that present detailed information on specific skills and techniques.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars OK for students, not for the real world, August 8, 2010

By 

Jc123 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Writing for Multimedia and the Web, Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Content Development for Interactive Media (Paperback)

I bought this book thinking it would be a practical tool for writing dynamic, engaging web copy... but it wasn't. It was too theoretical and had a boring textbook feel to it. I wanted to learn how users interact with the web and web text, but this book only told me broad generalizations that anyone who uses the web frequently already knows. Even though it's updated ("third edition") much of felt way out of date.