Technical Writing Humor

Everybody funny. Now you funny too. A look at the lighter side of technical communications.

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Technical Writing Humor: The Sidelines on Tech Writer Job Titles

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 »

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Technical Writing Humor: The Sidelines View of Telecommuting

I've done two stretches of full-time telecommuting--the first for about six months, and the second for about three months. My home office is impossibly glamorous. I have one of those executive oak desks from the 1950's with a little shelf thingy on the front to hold my trophies. I have a ceiling fixture I made out of chicken wire and plastic beads, a series of turn-of-the-century tobacco card pictures of boxers, and rotary dial telephones in a veritable rainbow of colors. I can burn incense and drink beer and wear glow-in-the-dark boxer shorts and listen to Guitarwolf without headphones if I feel like it. And yeah, sometimes I feel like it. Read more of this technical writing article »

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Microsoft Manual of Style – Valley Girl Translation

INKtopia Limited's virtual globalization team has announced a major advance in translation plug-ins for most major content management systems. Utilizing an advanced XML transform, dubbed Valspeak, coupled with streaming MP3 conversion, INKtopia's translation plug-in allows for on-the-fly translation of American and Canadian English texts and audio recordings to Valley Girl. Read more of this technical writing article »

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Microsoft Manual of Style on Tape

In a move designed to increase the convenience factor for technical writers on the move, publishers of the Microsoft Manual of Style have released the 4th edition in the popular Books-on-Tape format. “Mastering the Microsoft Manual of Style is no simple challenge,” says a spokesperson. “Providing MMoS on tape allows career-committed technical communicators to spend [...] Read more of this technical writing article »

corporatespeak

Technical Writing Trends: Translating Corporate Speak

I have come to understand something. When I’m in a meeting and I feel like I’m having a stroke and have lost the ability to process English effectively, I’m hearing corporate speak. Instead of clutching the table and asking someone to call 9-1-1, I’ve learned to write the word or phrase down and try to keep looking smart. There’s hardly anything more career limiting than creating a false alarm for a stroke. Read more of this technical writing article »

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Hitchhikers’ Guide to Technical Communications Conferences

In honor of the late Douglas Adams' 60th birthday on Sunday, March 11 and this date also representing the unofficial start to this year's WritersUA Conference for Software User Assistance, we present: The Hitchhikers Guide to Technical Communications Conferences. Read more of this technical writing article »

unemkarma

Technical Writing Humor: The Unemployment Fairy and Karma

Okay, so remember that whole living on the edge thing I was talking about in my last column? Well, I'm going with that. I went and got laid off, thereby facilitating yet another full-blown midlife crisis. And the fates are with me on this one. See, as the signs of an impending layoff became increasingly difficult to ignore, I was in the middle of refinancing my house. So, clever hen that I am, I tacked a little extra money onto my loan for, oh, say, home improvement or something. You know, like, improving the house. Read more of this technical writing article »

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Technical Writing Skills Testing: Writing, Edits, and Editorials

The responsibilities for a technical writing job can range from format meister to quasi-programmer, so employers are desperate to hang their hats on anything that’s a technical writing must-have. What if the technical writing test could test more than just editing? What if people were asked not just to edit, but to editorialize? Now that just might be really useful. Read more of this technical writing article »

TechWhirl ChristmasSphere-All I want

Wish List from a Very, Very Good Tech Writer

Dear Santa, I have been very very good. Please ask my boss for a copy of my job performance review for fiscal 2011 if you don't believe me. Per the terms of the Santa-Petitioner_In_Good_Standing contract, please send me the following items/services... Read more of this technical writing article »