You make an interesting point, and I can’t disagree with everything you say. Most people don’t go through life looking for a good textbook to curl up with. In a way though, I feel that the style does free up some of my creative juices. While the bullet points and the questions and such seem academic, it allows me to be less academic in the actual posts. I can feel free to tell the story my way and then, after I’m done, pull out the information and turn it into bullets.

I don’t know if I can turn you into a fan of the new style, but I do have a suggestion. Just as there are people who will probably just read the bullets, you can feel free to ignore the bullets and skip straight to the article. Reads the part that you enjoy (I hope) and don’t worry about the rest. Give it a try. Tell me what you think.

Thank you for the feedback.

I am not too sure about the new format.
For one, organization has its merits, and for a quick glance, bullets can not be beat. I like the option for additional reading, this is really value added. I waited a week, to be able to read a few posts to see where this new format was going, and to get a better feel for the direction you are going. I see that many people like the organization, and the skimming allowed by bullets. I see a lot of positive comments, but somewhere in all this, the voice of John that I grew to know from previous posts is getting burried in the new format: the blog feels like a blooming textbook. I hate reading textbooks, and I do not believe I am alone in this.

I am not saying ditch the organization, but perhaps examine the implementation of the new format… Reader’s Digest offers section headers. Pretty much all others offer out-takes, quotes, facts, or other related content to hel[p break up the article and add visual appeal. The only common model offering bullets are memos and text books. Memos are meant to be scanned (not read) and text-books are literary deserts. Perhaps the iamges, outlines, and additional reading could be incorperated as out-takes, where the real joy and meat is still the article. I appreciate the well written essay that grabs the reader by the scruff of the coller and says, come with me on my journey. Many of you “casual” posts did just that, while offering excellent, well though-out information. It is this wealth of knowledge and the enjoyment in recieving it through your wit and viewpoint that has kept me coming back looking for more. DO not be so quick to abandon what works. Add to it for those skimmers that wish to breeze across your site, if you must. Spice it up the way magazines do with the additional outtake information. But please do not start writing a textbook.

Thanks for your consistently high quality comments about writing.

James

Susans last blog post..How Does 64 = 65?

Thank you for the request. The first article, which appears today, discusses how I broke into the business. I’ll be discussing job searches and such many more times as well.

Do you think you can add an article about how best to break into the business? Does it matter if you have a degree in Technical Communications or not? Do you need a degree or experience in a specific field such as technology or a science or can someone with a Communications degree break into this business? Also, is it better to work freelance or with a company?

Thanks

I think Slate published an article within the last 2-4 weeks–wish I had a crystalline memory–about how to write for the Web. I’ll have to go dig that up again; it was a good article. They would do well to follow your series here.

Also, I like the idea of having the consistency of questions and further reading at the end and the use of graphics to make the whole Web experience easier on tired eyes.

You balance it out well: for the “quickie” reader (bullet points, links, and questions) and for those who really want to delve into and analyze a piece of writing (take the article as a whole: graphics, links, questions, bullet points, and the meat of the article itself). And the mixture of personal and professional experience is pivotal; it enlivens the text!

Kudos! I’m excited to read the rest of the series.

Leighs last blog post..The Music of Words and Other Matters

Along with others, I really like the style. I didn’t think I would at first, but as one who scans the first paragraph in posts before committing the time to read them, these posts will be on the top of my list for review each day.

Please include the professional advice with personal experience!

I look forward to reading your series.

Louellen

Louellen Cokers last blog post..Spamdexing: The Processed Keyword Products of Web Design

Jeanne