The Internet Writer's Handbook, Second Edition

Rating:
Summary: Great combination of web style guidelines and writing style
Review: I've read many books regarding web design and writing for online media. This book combines some knowledge you'd get from The Chicago Manual of Style, with some of the web info you'd get from The Yale Web Style Guide. Great mix of both subjects, in a a format that makes for easy reading. You need this book if you're web mastering and writing the content for your site.

Rating:
Summary: A Somewhat Useful Book for Beginning Writers
Review: The Internet Writer's Handbook is just that--a handbook. As such, it's not something you'll be reading or spending much time with. But that's a good thing, because this rather expensive book is very cheaply made and violates every rule of page layout its author attempts to teach. Pages are so busy and painful to look at that I'm rarely tempted to pick it up. The information is sound but basic. Much of it is typical freshman comp handbook stuff in Web-style disguise. The high price of this book makes even its good points sting a little. Bottom line: If I could have seen The Internet Writer's Handbook before I bought it, I wouldn't have considered it--especially at [the price] plus shipping.

Rating:
Summary: No sifting required: Chock full of gold nuggets of knowledge
Review: This is an AWESOME book! Very well organized. It can be read word-for-word cover-to-cover OR reviewed quickly for the major points! The information is very accessible because of the presentation: lots of bulleted lists, short paragraphs, and special tips. Also, excellent examples (of both stellar and regretable writing) are given throughout the book. This book is a success due to the excellent oranization and presentation, AND the broad scope of information offered (e.g., three chapters on different aspects of writing for the Web, a chapter on editing Web sites, chapters on Web page design and navigation, and more)!

As a novice in the subject of writing for the Web, I've found this an excellent "How to" book. I'm an editor of trade books and other publications, but am learning about writing for the Web. So far, this has been the most helpful book because of the accessibility of the information (not buried in long, narrative chapters).

Another recommendation: I recommend "Writing for New Media" (1998). In "Writing for New Media," authors Bonime and Pohlmann discuss writing for interactive media, which includes interactive thinking, interactive writing (instead of linear writing), and aspects of interactive storytelling.