It all started with the BIG question on the table.

How do we write learning materials that people actually want to read?

This Coffee Chat focused on the art and challenge of writing for learning. Whether it’s job aids, workbooks, or PowerPoint slides, the struggle is the same: keeping things clear, concise, and human. The discussion centered on how to cut through the noise, remove the fluff, and make content easy to digest without oversimplifying it.

The group shared ideas about finding the right balance between too much and not enough. Some of us worry about losing meaning when we simplify, while others admit to writing a novel for a ten-minute course. Hemingway’s famous advice to “keep it short and use simple words” came up more than once. The goal is not to strip the story away but to make sure every word earns its place.

We also explored design choices that make written content more engaging. White space, larger fonts, and shorter paragraphs keep readers focused and reduce visual fatigue. For learners who are neurodiverse or have visual limitations, those same choices make a huge difference. Clean layouts, chunked information, and thoughtful formatting improve accessibility and make the learning experience better for everyone.

Before long, the talk shifted to tone and audience. Good writing starts with knowing who you are talking to. Not every learner reads the same way, and not every message needs the same level of context. Sometimes people are not looking for a history lesson; they just need to know how to do the thing.

In the end, great writing for learning is about empathy. When we focus on what learners need to understand instead of what we want to explain, everything becomes clearer.

Stay curious!

-Shannon

Video

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Transcript

Transcript Summary

Resources

What Hemingway Teaches Us About Instructional Writing

Bright Carbon monthly webinars

Books

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

Design for How People Learn (Voices That Matter) by Julie Dirksen

Write Like Hemingway: Find Your Voice, Discover Your Style Using the 10 Rules That Guided A Nobel Laureate by Ed Gleason

Instructional Story Design: Develop Stories That Train by Rance Greene

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Host: Shannon Tipton 

Podcast produced by: Obsidian Productions