Writing Spaces: Web Writing Style Guide 1.0 is am awesome source for web writing.  Writing for the web presents a new literary culture when compared to writing for print. It is a bit daunting for a writer, who’s first purpose is to have their work seen by an audience.

I didn’t like the idea of web writing at first - I am attached to books, pages, and the look of ink on paper; and the fear of the demise of print still finds it’s way into my ever aging world view. I’m sure I’ve declared never to become a web writer at some point in my life.


But, times have changed, and my comfort level with web writing grows the more I learn about the do’s-and-don’ts of web writing. “The web is not a blank piece of (virtual) paper waiting to be filled with content! It is a network of communities, each of which has its own expectations, its own values, and its own strategies for success.”(pg 6) The opportunities granted for writers to get their work seen is nothing to overlook, and this guide is perfect for those wary of the world of web writing (as I once was, and still am sometimes).

According to Writing Spaces, “if you want to make your blog standout, take strong positions on a particular subject or theme and write in a colorful, fun way. The more fun you have writing your blog, the more likely it is that others will have fun reading it.” (pg 10) I think this can even be applied to print writing. It’s only natural for a writer who enjoys what they write to translate this enjoyment to their reader. 

Even the bits of advice on how to manage Facebook and Twitter are insightful since they are widely used by people who don’t specifically blog, yet, have a growing fan base. 

What I got most out of Writing Spaces was how our visual representation can be used as a rhetorical tool. For example, page titles, sub headers, and font add to a writer’s ethos. If there is no systematic reason for the look of a blog, a reader will not be able to get the most out of the content. I understand these concepts, however, putting them in practice is still something I need to get a better grasp on. 

I attempted to start a blog about a year ago (http://ninaizme.blog.com/), the goal to get my creative writing pieces out to the public.  I kept it simple since I didn’t know about web design, and how to manipulate it, nor have I returned to add more material or change it. However, it was a starting point in my venture to the web writing world. I was lucky enough to take a Web Design class last semester where I did learn how to create a web site, use HTML language, and how a site’s visual cue’s dictate how a user navigates through content. 

“The Digital Archives of Literacy Narratives (DALN) is a publicly available archive of personal literacy narratives in a variety of formats (text, video, audio) that together provide a historical record of the literacy practices and values of contributors, as those practices and values change” (http://daln.osu.edu/). The DALN is a great source for writers, and a perfect place to begin a web writing journey, where we can use all the skills we’ve learned throughout the semester.