About the Book
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
Table of Contents:
Interactivity and the Writer; Writing for Many Media; High-Level Design, Management, and Technical Skills Useful to the Interactive Writer; The Multimedia and Web Site Production Team; Script and Proposal Formatting; Defining and Achieving Goals for Informational Multimedia and Web Sites; Information Multimedia and Web Architecture; Introduction to the Informational Multimedia and Web Site Case Studies; Case Study - Writing a Marketing Web Site from Proposal to Documentation, Prudential Veroni Realty; Case Study - Corporate Web Site, T. Rowe Price; Case Study - Research Portal Web Site and the Online Feature Story, Britanica.com and the Harlem Renaissance; Case Study - E-Learning: Interactive Math and Statistics Lessons; Case Study - Museum Kiosk, The Naticus Shipbuilding Company; Case Study - Training, Vital Signs; Interactive Multimedia Narrative and Linear Narrative; The Elements of Interactive Multimedia Narrative; Introduction to the Narrative Multimedia Case Studies; Case Study - Adapting Classic Books to a Computer Game for the Female Audience, Nancy Drew; Case Study - Adding Story to Simulation, Amped 3; Case Study - Parallel Stories Narrative, The Pandora Detective; Case Study - Worlds Narrative, Dust a Tale of the Wired West; Case Study - Immersive Exhibit, The New England Economic Adventure; Conclusion - Becoming a Professional Interactive Writer.
About the Author :
Timothy Garrand, Ph.D. is a recognized expert in content development and interactive architecture for interactive media. For more than 15 years, Garrand has brought his expertise to the development of a wide range of both web and multimedia projects for major clients, such as Fidelity Investments, Pearson Education, Houghton Mifflin, Citibank and The Hartford. Garrand is currently a Principal User Experience Architect at TandemSeven, a company that designs and architects business portals and custom eBusiness solutions, specializing in creating usable, intuitive interfaces for complex applications. Garrand is also a frequent speaker at conferences and professional gatherings and occasionally teaches college courses on interactive media.
Review :
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 University
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
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
