Online: Books without barriers with Julie Ganner

This writing course, Online: Books Without Barriers: Writing for Accessibility and Inclusion, will be held online via Zoom.

Is your text easy to read on the page, or will it cause strain on the eyes? Is it still understandable when listened to as an audiobook? Will some readers miss out on the illustrations and cover design if they can’t see them?

Everyone should be able to engage fully with the stories and information you create, irrespective of whether they use vision, hearing or touch to read them. With the rise in popularity of audiobooks and ebooks, the printed book is no longer king. Most publishers now offer texts in multiple formats to serve readers’ diverse preferences, including those of the 21% of Australians living with disability. Meanwhile, following legislative changes in Europe and the US, book publishers and literary journals are increasingly looking for digital content that is accessible, to meet the requirements of both local and international markets.

This interactive workshop with accredited editor Julie Ganner will consider the different ways in which readers may enjoy your work, and offer practical suggestions on how to make your writing more inclusive. Tips will include how to format your manuscript correctly, use multi-sensory language to create a richer reading experience, write effective image descriptions, and check your page proofs for readability.

Expected learning outcomes

In this workshop, participants will:

1. Gain a fuller understanding of the diverse reading preferences of your audience, and the barriers to reading people can experience if their needs are not considered.

2. Learn how to make your writing accessible to a wider range of readers, irrespective of the sense they use to read it or the format in which they choose to read.

3. Discover how to use your skills as a writer to make your illustrations and book cover useful to readers who can’t see them.

Participant requirements

Pen and paper will be require along with internet access and confidence using basic computer software are essential for this program.

Note: This workshop will not be recorded.

If you have questions about this course, please contact us.