Promise it will be quick

Plan, organize, then write

Plan the structure of

the course

Your text needs to communicate in a second that the entire experience of taking the lesson will be something they can do quickly and painlessly. The way you name your lessons can help you out . Short sentences and paragraphs work great also. No one wants to read the Great American Novel in your courses.

Before you begin, think: who is the audience, what is the purpose of the message and how will the learner use the information.

List the topics which need to be covered. Make a note of the points you want to cover on each screen. Focus on the learning objectives - and bear them in mind as you write!

Lively and relevant

Most learners only skim on-screen text so keep it lively and relevant to the learner. For example, add subheadings for each main idea. The learners will be able to glance at the subheadings and pick out the main ideas.

Use text responsibly

Use text responsibly. Keep it to no more than six lines per screen and intermix it with other elements. Also, don't overdo your text animations.

Be authentic

Make sure the language and detail is authentic. If you're in new territory, talk to subject matter experts and do the research to make sure you're comfortable with the dialogue and patterns of speech.

Use the Active Voice

Use active voice whenever possible. The active voice is more direct and engaging. The sentences are punchy and makes it clear who's doing what. Writing in the active voice gives energy to your content, which will keep your learners reading.

Variety is important

You can go beyond bullet point slides and vary the rhythm of your text. Ask questions, mix up the structure - use scenarios, give examples, tell a story.

Be descriptive

Headlines and titles should tell the learner what the course or module is about. Some people like to use humor, while others prefer to play it straight. It doesn't matter, as long as readers know what to expect. Readers want to know what's in it for them. A good title will tell them.