Although the quality of educational software is increasing dramatically, the need for good instructional software far surpasses the supply. There are at present relatively few authors with the array of knowledge and skills necessary to produce high quality interactive instruction. In the absence of trained authors, much of the available software has been produced by teams of experts who typically have little experience and knowledge. This paper explores the range of skills that may be desirable for creating effective instruction with the electronic media, examines the drawbacks of existing methods of authoring instructional material, and considers the kinds of curricula that would provide education and training in the requisite skills. A course of study is envisioned which would educate "master authors" in: (1) subject matter expertise; (2) artistic and technological skills; (3) instructional design skills; and (4) information processing and learning theory. A 17-item bibliography and brief biographies of the authors are included. (Author/JB)