FA 360 - Writing for New Media

With the advent of CD ROM, DVD, and the World Wide Web, the role of the writer is changing. Today's writer must be keenly aware of the technological and creative ramifications of this new medium. This course will provide students with a theoretical base to write in various multimedia environments as well as the practical tools necessary to develop interactive, non-linear documents. Like a traditional writing course, Writing for New Media will cover the basics of writing: prewriting, drafting, and revising; however, students will learn how changes in the medium necessitate changes in the traditional mode. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to the following: History of Hypertext, Hypertext: Theory and Practice, Literary Theory and its Impact on New Media, The Non-linear Narrative, Writing for the Gaming Industry, Storyboarding, Web Authoring, Software Selection , Legal Issues for the Digital Writer, and Hypermedia and the Future.