Tech Writer Today Magazine - TechWhirl
Technical writing and technical communications news, articles and resources for technical writers and technical communicators.
Andrea Ames presented a practical session on the qualities and requirements of a great team leader. Rife with audience feedback, it was a lively session that could have gone twice its length. Some key (tweetable!) points included: A good leader also has to be a good team member; Leadership is sharable and contextual; and Who leads on a team can shift as context changes. Read more of this technical writing article »
Editor’s Note: The following piece by Geoff Hart is part of our collection of “classics”–articles that stand the test of time no matter how many technologies come and go. Every technical writer has been advised to understand the audience before documenting a product. Traditionally, this has meant understanding the needs of the product’s immediate users; [...] Read more of this technical writing article »
Editor’s Note: The following piece by David Stewart is part of our collection of “classics”–articles that stand the test of time no matter how many technologies come and go. Imagine the perfect technical writing experience. Engineers gladly line up at your door to explain how the product works. You enjoy ample time to finish the [...] Read more of this technical writing article »
Editor’s Note: The following piece by Geoff Hart is part of our collection of “classics”–articles that stand the test of time no matter how many technologies come and go. I’m going to violate one of the cardinal rules of technical writing, and alienate my audience right off the bat: I’ve never worked in a cubicle. [...] Read more of this technical writing article »
Editor’s Note: The following piece, by M. Katherine Brown, is part of our collection of “classics”–articles that stand the test of time no matter how many technologies come and go. Mention team technical reviews to a group of tech writers and chances are good that you will either get a loud, collective groan, or the [...] Read more of this technical writing article »
Even the most skillful technical writers face the task of persuading Subject Matter Experts (“SMEs”) to review our documentation for technical correctness; after all, they’re the experts, not us. If pressed, even the most reluctant SMEs acknowledge the value of these reviews. For example, where the interface is in a state of flux, you may [...] Read more of this technical writing article »
Question: I’m planning on attending my first big conference this year. What should I do to prepare? What should I expect? And how do I get the most out of the experience? First, determine what you want to gain from the conference. Are you looking to gain new knowledge in specific topic areas? Are you [...] Read more of this technical writing article »