On the subject of my bible-length posts

[DavidC]

Would it be helpful if I bolded key points? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Sorry, btw.

[Redd]

Sure. Why not?

[Paxosmotic]

Believe it or not, I know exactly what you mean. Me and you both posted what are certainly contenders for posts of the week and no one read them because they were full of like, words, and stuff. I'll take this opportunity to advertise them incase anyone would like to check out our work. I thought your post was great and would appreciate you not bullet pointing. Those of us interested in learning will read every word, and those who aren't interested in learning won't. Pretty simple stuff in that regard.

DavidC's "Where Poker Profits Come From" - Link

Paxosmotic's "Bloom's Taxonomy and Thoughts on Poker Progression" - Link

[jaxUp]

Thank you for linking to those...I missed both of them. That is easily davidC's most profound post to date. I encourage everyone to read and think about it.

I am still trying to digest your post pax. I don't really have any questions about it, but I may later.

And david, no need to bold the key points. It is the rest of the stuff that make posts like this one truly great.

[TennesseeKid]

I really dug that piece. Regardless of the math on it, the philosophy is most interesting. Thanks.

[USDaniels]

You're equating "bullet pointing" with "dumbing down" (which it can be).

I've never noticed that DavidC's posts need any of the following suggestions, but here are some incomplete thoughts on formatting for this particular medium.

Formatting for the web is different than for paper. Sure, you can adopt a "take it or leave it" mentality to the content you produce, or you can try to format it in a way that more of your audience will be able to get through it and digest it. That is the goal after all. You wouldn't have written it if you didn't want anyone to use it.


Subheadings
Concerning subheadings: Use them. Lots of them.

Paragraphs
I think it's pretty proven at this point that people don't like reading long paragraphs on a computer screens. Shorten them or manufacture line breaks in them. This helps the eye/brain team index information. Think of it more as newspaper writing instead of novel writing.

This doesn't mean you have to dumb it down, it just means you have to give the eye a break every so often. You are still going to try to group thoughts together, but you'll use any shift in tone or logic process as an excuse to put a line break in.

Shoot for paragraphs to be no longer than four sentences.

Allowing one sentence to stand alone as a paragraph is no longer considered a "no-no" like they taught you in school.

Italics
Use italics to emphasize


Lists
Use them for emphasis where they will help the flow of the page.

To Sum Up
There is a lot written about this on the web (oddly enough), so I'll stop here. But, it is something we should think about when posting.

And one final thought. Don't lecture your audience about formatting, it's boring.

[AdamL]

You write wonderful treatises, and have colourful language. You contribute enormously to the poker forum here and I have enjoyed your posts on many occasions.

But none of your posts will ever get read? Want to know why?

Three simple reasons:

You don't make a sales pitch. You don't draw the reader in.

Have you ever read a motivational book?

Start your post with something provocative and unexpected. Especially a compliment, something to flatter the reader into wanting to read more.

Then kick it off with an off-the-wall statement.

Then a question, like "Want to know why?"

Then try something like "Simple reasons: 1,2,3...." etc.

Devote a little chapter to each of those reasons.

You've got to get the sales-side of the post going. You've got to pull the reader in. You're a wonderful writer, let's get more people reading.


[img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[VoraciousReader]

Two comments:

1) You missed an important point: head each chapter with an appropriate quotation.

2) He can sell when he wants to. I refer you to The Best Titled Post of All Time

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Redd]

[ QUOTE ]
I refer you to The Best Titled Post of All Time

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

wrong

[Vote4Pedro]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I refer you to The Best Titled Post of All Time

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

wrong

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats pretty [censored] funny...ty