Review by Kate Harrison Whiteside
The story behind Write’s (Write.co.nz) success is all about how they live and breathe what they do. Their goal is to save organizations and people from bad communication and give them the tools to create memorable messages. This time they’ve taken on the universal challenge of too much (often not very interesting) information. They show us how to tell stories that will free up decision-making, motivate leaders, and ​empower people. And, all this because an idea, pitch or choice is best presented in a story framework the audience can relate to. Simple!

Let's bring storytelling at work to life
So, why haven’t we been doing this style of communicating all along? Well, writing styles are often entrenched in organizations and professions, deadlines force the writing process to by-pass audience focus, and leadership is needed to make a change in direction. The motivation may be there, but skills and knowledge may need help. Write’s Storytelling at Work online course and workbook are there to take you above and beyond. 
 
The online course reflects the very core of clear communication (plain language) in its simple presentation style, understandable content, video and text options. The content is discussed in the video, supported by the workbook exercises and finishes off with a quiz to help you measure progress. 
 
Your new skills will generate interest
With Write’s storytelling guide in your pocket, you are ready to turn ordinary ideas into memorable stories and apply these to brilliant effect in your writing life at work. Don’t worry if this is all new. Write works their magic throughout the course. You’ll learn the types of story themes, the stages that build a bridge (story arch) as your story goes from a situation, to a spark point, to a solution. Just take a deep breath and dive in.
 
I took this online course and highly recommend it. I’ll be putting it to use immediately with a new client. Contact me if you are interested in finding out more.
 
Kate Harrison Whiteside
kate@keyadvice.net
Plain language consultant and trainer
Keyadvice.net
PlainLanguageAcademy.com

One of the best things to come from the technology age is the blending or morphing of writing and designing. It is now desirable, actually preferable, for content creators and website designers to work together, even simultaneously. Yes, the architect and the painter. The surgeon and the physiotherapist. The CEO and the administrator. It is the synergy of this teamwork that creates satisfied clients, our ultimate goal. So how does that relate to plain language?

Three guidelines for accessibility
Plain language is the process of creating clear content readers can understand, access and use. It’s about audience, accessibility, inclusiveness. It shares these common goals with:
Content Design, the practice of creating user-focused content for websites, as explained by Content Design Centre’s Sarah Richards,
and
 Visual Design, improving user experience on websites, as defined by interaction-design.org.
Together they are the communications reality of the world of Universal Design.

The Rickhansen.com blog, Universal Design 101, outlines the seven basic principles, from an architect’s or planner’s perspective. Each one can be applied to designing clear websites created with plain language content and developed together.

I particularly like: 
“Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use.  Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.”

This is also one of the key foundations of plain language, clear web content and visual design practices.

Where do I start?
All these new design practices support our goals of effectively sharing online content. Plain language and web development are both team endeavours. When setting up your web project team aim for these three milestones:

• Understanding
• Accessibility
• Usability

Build a team that includes your:

• plain language content creator
• clear web platform developer
• user-oriented graphic designer 
• and users.

This holistic approach will ensure the end project meets the three key goals before it’s launched. Then you can celebrate with your happy clients.
 
Don’t just talk about ‘universal design’, live it in every project. You and your clients will experience the rewards.

Find out more:
 
Content Design podcast by Sarah Richards, Content Design Centre, London
Visual Design ideas blog from interaction-design.org
PlainLanguageAcademy.com Creating Clear E-content online, interactive course.
 

The truly collaborative, universal, inclusive content Readability Guideline project is now drawing conclusions. It will create a style guide that includes plain language recommendations. Content Design London is leading the project using Slack and Wikidot. As we are often challenged to create or follow a style guide, having one with this kind of solid research, global input and varied expertise behind it is invaluable. 



​

Focus on accessibility 
​Plain language is all about accessibility and this is a critical factor in online content. The project’s Beta phase discussions focused on 15 topics. Under plain language their recommendations include:

• Make content understandable and clear for users who may have a variety of literacy and accessibility challenges.
• Always use short, common words.
• Avoid jargon, abbreviations and acronyms.

They consulted Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Nielsen Norman Group and R. Trudeau on legal plain language, just to name a few.

Plain language readability guidelines
Their public wiki activity identified these readability guidelines supported by evidence:

• Use simple sentences.
• Keep link text at the end of a sentence.
• Avoid referencing gender or age in content.
• Choose respectful vocabulary.

Their research showed readability best practice should include plain language, active tense, good grammar and accurate punctuation.

Where to next?
They will continue to usability test important readability questions. Topics are still open for discussion and people with relevant data should share it.

Support this initiative by using #readabilityguidelines, providing any research-supported readability data you have collected or donating funds.

Thanks to Rob Mills at Gather Content for his blog share.

Another great resource is the online, searchable UK Government Style Guide.