• Email Discussion Group
    • Subscribe
    • FAQs
    • Rules and Expectations
    • Search Discussion Group Archives
  • News
  • Job Board
  • Events Calendar
    • Submit an event or activity
About | Blog | Advertise |Submit News, Tips, Stories

Tech Writer Today Magazine - TechWhirl

Technical writing and technical communications news, articles and resources for technical writers and technical communicators.

  • Business
    • Technical Communications Content Strategy
    • Integrated Technical Communications
    • Trends
  • Careers
    • Advice
    • Career Paths
    • Getting Started
      • What is Technical Communications?
      • What is Technical Writing?
    • Getting Your Next Job
      • Portfolios
      • Networking
      • Job Search Interviews
    • Mentoring
    • Learn about the STC (sponsor)
  • Skills
    • Content Delivery
    • Content Development
    • Content Structure
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Project Management
    • Soft Skills
    • Procurement
    • Technical Documentation
    • VIU Tech Comm Certificate Program (sponsor)
    • Workplace
  • Software
    • Adobe Systems (sponsor)
    • Collaboration Tools
    • ComponentOne (sponsor)
    • Content Management Systems
    • Digital Asset Management
    • Help Authoring Software
    • MadCap Software (sponsor)
    • Office Productivity
    • Open Source
    • Publishing/Production
  • Humor
    • All I want for Christmas
    • Tech Writer Horror Stories
  • News
  • Related Fields
    • Change Management
    • Content Management
    • Document Management
    • Proposal Management
    • Quality Assurance
    • Usability
    • User Assistance
    • User Experience
  • Ready for STC Summit 2012?

Interesting Times: Challenges and Opportunities for Technical Communication

Written by Al Martine on May 16, 2012
Houser_STC-plenary-session

During a talk with Alan Houser, the incoming President for the Society for Technical Communication (STC), we touched on his background, company, work in the STC, and his plans for the upcoming year. Alan talked about the Chinese proverb or the Chinese curse, which says “may you live in interesting times,” and how the current economic turmoil is impacting friends, colleagues and relatives. His vision for the STC in the coming year includes "working to assist our members while we leverage what I think is the most exciting time in the history of this profession." Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Business Leader Interviews - Tags: Alan Houser, consulting, STC, technical communication

Technical Communication News

  • Articulate® Launches Articulate Storyline® for eLearning Authors
  • Agora Software Releases Help Generator, HAT for Windows Apps Help and Documentation
  • Acrolinx Named as a Cool Vendor in Content Management by Gartner
  • Aptara Named to the “Training Outsourcing Watch List” for Innovative eLearning Solutions

More Tech Comm News >> | Submit News


crowdsourcing-1-sm

Crowdsourcing: The New Black?

Written by Tony Chung on May 15, 2012 · 2 Comments

What’s in a name? To some, the specifics of a name mean absolutely nothing. To others, that same name means absolutely everything. While some believe as Shakespeare wrote: "...a rose by any other name, its smell is sweet...", Technical Writers in general are more attached to their chosen terms. Today's term is "Crowdsourcing." What is it? What is its relevance to technical communication today? And, the bigger question: Why does my iPhone insist on Capitalizing the C? Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Next in Tech Comm - Tags: crowdsourcing, SME, technical communication, Web 2.0

television-wall

Technical Writing Poll: Best TV Shows Set in Chicago

Written by TechWhirl on May 14, 2012 · 2 Comments

If you enjoyed last week's poll, or tend to indulge in the couch potato forms of recreation when not doing technical writing chores, then you should be ecstatic about this week's technical writing poll. We know that there were loads of great movies set in Chicago, now it's time for you to vote on the wonders of the small screen. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Polls - Tags: Chicago, STC, technical writing, television

weekendrecap

TechWhirl: Technical Communications Recap for May 11, 2012

Written by TechWhirl on May 11, 2012 · Start the Discussion

We’ve begun to wonder if there’s a causal, or merely coincidental link, between prepping for one of the technical communications field’s biggest conferences and the rise in discussions around job hunting and career issues. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: TechWhirl's Blog - Tags: Chicago, job titles, STC, SWAG

TechWhirl Sphere 300dpi

Tech Writer This Week for May 10, 2012

Written by Craig Cardimon on May 10, 2012 · Start the Discussion

Our cruise around the web this week finds lots of insight, worthwhile tools, and new looks at good rules for technical communication, UX, and getting what you want from life. Posts and commentary on consistency in tech comm, and rules and tools for building good documentation and good user experiences. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Articles - Tags: cloud, technical communication, user experience, UX, XML


Sponsored Ads


windups-sm

Technical Writing Humor: The Sidelines on Tech Writer Job Titles

Written by Lisa Higgins on May 9, 2012 · Start the Discussion

It's probably got something to do with the fact that we're generally an isolated lot. Almost by definition, we tech writer like people work in environments where we perform a secondary or even tertiary function. We're a minority. We're not the primary line of business. We're a cost center. So we like to think that we belong, at least, to some sort of global professional community. We look for some kind of solidarity among ourselves--some sort of agreement as to who we are and what we do. And when someone comes along who disagrees or doesn't fit into our perceived tech writer demographic, we call them hacks, wannabes, and newbies. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Technical Writing Humor - Tags: classics, job titles, technical writer

chicago-movies

Technical Writing Poll: Favorite Movies Set in Chicago

Written by TechWhirl on May 8, 2012 · Start the Discussion

Yes we admit it, this week's poll has more to do with looking forward to the STC Summit than with technical writing issues or trends... but it's tangentially related--honest. Movies are written, and there are some great ones set in that toddlin' town of Chicago. They have audiences, and great technical writers are supposed to know theirs. Movies rely on personas, so does a lot of technical writing. Great movies obviously make good use of visuals to demonstrate how do something important, or relevant or geeky or cool... you get the idea. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Polls - Tags: Chicago, movies, STC, technical writing

shotglass-stubbornlywrite-sm

SWAG Bragging: The Best of Technical Communications Conferences

Written by Lauren Hart on May 7, 2012 · 1 Comment

Freebies. Promotional Materials. Giveaways. Most people simply call it swag. Short for Stuff We All Get. Even the word SWAG is fun to say. A lot of us get cool trinkets when we attend technical communications conferences, and we thought we could “crowd source” this project as part of May’s TechWhirl theme. Thanks to those who participated via social media, and the technical communicators sent us pictures of their favorite conference goodies. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Tech Comm Conferences - Tags: conference, freebies, SWAG, technical communications


Sponsored Ads


Find your next Technical Communication Job

Technical Communication Jobs on TechWhirl

Written by TechWhirl on May 5, 2012 · Start the Discussion

Money, jobs, fame and maybe fewer stress related headaches with this week's TechWhirl Technical Communication Jobs Listings. This week we have a couple Technical Writers roles on the board. Houston or Montreal anyone? Plus, some second-cup of coffee fueled references to frogs and rainbows. Read more of this technical writing article »

Categories: Technical Communications News - Tags: Tech Comm Job Search, TechCommJobs

Follow TechWhirl

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS Feed
  • Subscribe via Email

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

More Articles & Blog Posts

Translation - March 2012

  • Writing for Global Readiness: What Technical Writers Need to Know
  • How to Choose a Translation Vendor for Tech Comm Projects
  • Technical Writer Tips and Tricks: PDF and Online Help Documentation Translation

WritersUA 2012

  • WritersUA Conference: The Story of User Assistance
  • Why You Should Have Attended User Assistance 101 at WritersUA
  • The EBook Publishing - Technical Communication Mutual Learning Opportunity

More posts: WritersUA Conference

TechWhirl Columns

  • Taking Advantage of Reflexive Responses
  • Save Time by Mastering the Basics: Efficient Movement within a File
  • Personas and the five W’s: Developing Content that Meets Reader Needs, Pt. 2

More posts: TechWhirl Columns

Recent Comments

  • B.J. Smith on Crowdsourcing: The New Black?
  • Lauren Hart on Technical Writing Poll: Best TV Shows Set in Chicago
  • Ryan on Crowdsourcing: The New Black?
  • Larry Kunz on Technical Writing Poll: Best TV Shows Set in Chicago
  • New TechWhirl Article: TechComm Conference Freebies | Write Techie on SWAG Bragging: The Best of Technical Communications Conferences

Latest on Tech Comm Jobs

  • Technical Writer May 7, 2012
  • Technical Writer May 4, 2012
  • Technical Writer May 3, 2012
  • Job Board Manager April 23, 2012

Upcoming Events

  • May 15, 2012 – FrameMaker Template Design (live online training)
    All Day, Training
  • May 20, 2012 – STC Summit 2012
    All Day, Conferences

Polls

What's your favorite TV show set in Chicago?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive

Copyright © 2012 INKtopia Limited, All Rights Reserved

About | Contact | Terms of Service & Your Privacy | Submit News, Tips, Stories