Writing for interactive content like websites, apps, games, online courses, and more requires a different approach compared to traditional linear writing. With interactive content, your writing needs to guide the user through a non-linear experience and anticipate multiple paths they could take. This requires considering factors like interactive structure, choosing between text and other elements, optimizing for discovery, and more.
Structure is paramount for interactive writing. You must map out all possible pathways and interactions to ensure a logical flow and avoid dead ends. Create an outline or sitemap detailing each page or section with call-outs for links, buttons, options to choose from. Indicate conditional logic for dynamic or personalized content. test this structure extensively during development to fix any issues.
Within this structural framework, writers must make strategic choices around using text vs other elements. Text should be succinct and broken into digestible chunks focused on the task or question at hand. Leverage headings, lists, images, videos for visual pacing and explanation. Let interactive elements like dropdowns, sliders and other widgets convey information in intuitive ways without walls of text.
Focus on writing for discovery by enticing users to explore different sections. Place calls-to-action throughout inviting them to “Learn More” or try an interactive demo. Breadcrumb links help with navigation and signal their place within the larger experience. Consider including “You May Also Like” recommendations related to their interests or previous pages viewed. Make content scannable and give users a reason to dive deeper.
Conditionals allow personalizing the experience based on the user’s answers or profile. Be prepared for multiple potential responses and flows by outlining alternative passages. Clearly signal a branch is being taken such as “If you chose option A, read this. If option B, read that instead.” Maintain consistency in tone, style and voice across all pathways. Test these dynamic interactions vigorously.
Help and support information needs its own focused treatment for interactive content. Anticipate common questions around functionality, getting started or potential errors. Provide contextual tips, definitions and explanations. Make these discoverable from within the experience itself such as contextual “Huh?” links. Consider a dedicated help page and search function as well.
Writing for different devices requires adjustment for smaller screens with limited real estate. Prioritize key information through concise headlines and bullet points. Break content into discrete modules that load individually. Optimize text through scannability principles like sentence case, left-aligned rag, ample whitespace and minimum four words per line. Make sharing and saving content easy if applicable.
User-generated content amplifies the scale and vivacity of interactive experiences. Provide guidance, templates and moderation guidelines to shape productive discussions. Clearly signal what’s expected in comments, prompts or project contributions. Consider automating transcription, captioning and language translation too for accessibility and broader reach.
Web Analytics inform optimization by tracking what paths users take, how long they linger in sections and common exits points. Correlate this data to content priorities and structure. Continually test refinements based on quantitative and qualitative feedback. Iterate to improve the experience over time through user research and usability studies.
Whether hosting an online course, powering an app or building a website, interactive writing demands planning for all potential flow scenarios. Structure combined with strategic use of text, media and interactivity cultivates discovery and engagement. Data-driven refinement further enhances the experience over multiple iterations. Interactive content is a continually evolving process that benefits from a user-centered approach.