When most people think of writing, they imagine someone sitting at a desk, spinning tales of love and adventure. And while that may be true for some skilled writers, writing curriculum is a very different beast. As an author of educational materials, you must inform and educate your readers. That takes a different set of skillsets than simply entertaining them. So what’s the difference? Let’s take a closer look.
Entertaining writing is designed to keep the reader’s attention. The skilled writer may employ clever turns of phrase, a sense of humor, or other techniques aimed at keeping readers interested in what they have to say. In today’s world, where we’re constantly bombarded with information and entertainment choices on every side, skilled writers must take extra care to make their work stand out from all others. For example: “This week I went fishing with my dad.” Or even: “My dad took me fishing this past weekend but didn’t catch anything.” Both are true statements about an event that took place. But which one would you rather read? If you answered ‘both’ then please call your local library and ask for help finding interesting reading material.
Writing for information, on the other hand, is all about delivering facts in a clear and concise manner. This type of writing can be dry at times, but it’s essential for transmitting knowledge to others. In many cases, it’s the first step in helping people learn new things. For example: “Fishing is a popular sport because it allows people to connect with nature.” Or even: “There are many different types of fishing equipment available on the market today.” Both statements are true, but they deliver information in very different ways. The first statement entertains while also imparting knowledge; the second one is strictly factual without any bells or whistles attached.
One common mistake made by Sunday School curriculum authors is straying too far from the facts. While it’s important to inject a bit of personality into your work, you don’t want to go too far off-topic. Otherwise, you’ll lose your readers’ attention and they’ll be less likely to learn what you’re trying to teach them. Another mistake that can be made is failing to engage the reader. This can be done in a number of ways, but one of the most common is using dense, jargon-filled language that’s difficult to understand. If your readers can’t understand what you’re saying, they’ll quickly lose interest and move on to something else. Finally, it’s important to remember that writing for information and writing for entertainment