Tech Writer Today Magazine - TechWhirl
Technical writing and technical communications news, articles and resources for technical writers and technical communicators.
Technical writing and technical communications news, articles and resources for technical writers and technical communicators.
I love weeks like this on TechWhirl. With lots of varied, and heated threads on the email discussion list (cloud subscriptions, interactive documents, progressive disclosure and layered documents, among other interesting items), you should be able to find something to argue…err… talk about well into the weekend. Continue reading ...
In my job as a technical writer, one of the decisions I wrestle with every day concerns topic length. Is the topic short enough to retain readers but long enough to cover the material? If the topic is too short, should I merge it with another? If the topic is too long, should I break it into two topics? This is a lot of what I think about. So does Tom Johnson (I'd Rather Be Writing). Tech Writer This Week gives you other stuff to think about: research, content strategy, taxonomy, customer journey maps, UX, CXM, and cardboard boats... huh? Continue reading ...
Think for a minute about how you would like to see your writing described by a critic (say for the New York Times): sensible, understandable, logical, resonating, compelling, interesting…topical? Writing content that works for your readers, especially when it covers something technical and complex, doesn't just happen. It takes some thought and planning to structure it, both to be usable and relevant to the reader, and to be reusable and effective for your organization. Enter: Topic-based writing. Continue reading ...
Technical communicators are, and probably always have been, a passionate bunch willing to debate the merits of their favorite points of view with anyone who has access to a keyboard and a connection. And at least as far back as the turn of the century, one of those classic debates has turned on content versus structure. Back then it was "Structure vs. Substance." It's also been technical versus writer. You could even argue that it's about logic versus intuition. Today, we ask the question as our weekly tech comm poll: is compelling content or robust structure more important? Continue reading ...
I have a habit of relating most things in my life to video games and board games (some people call this gamification). I find that this way of thinking is especially relevant on a professional level. My quest—as someone who produces and manages content within a content lifecycle—is to overcome obstacles, to complete these tasks, and to achieve my epic win. Content Strategy: Connecting the Dots is the strategy guide that gets me closer to the epic win. Continue reading ...
The STC Summit 2013, held in Atlanta, Georgia this year, got off to an excellent start with an entertaining and eye-opening keynote address by New York Times technology columnist David Pogue. Larry Kunz (sdicorp.com) shares his impressions of the summit. The STC posted a ton of photos, tweets, and slideshows on eventifier.co and we also offer our annual Pinterest board for your enjoyment. The slides are great. I've seen a few shows already, and have dogeared more to view. After which, enjoy some great posts on tech comm, content strategy, and user experience. Continue reading ...
Adobe calls it a "thought leadership and networking platform." We call it fascinating, fun and worth far more than a half day's effort in Hotlanta on May 5. Back by popular demand, Adobe Day at the STC Summit in Atlanta featured thought leadership, debate and great networking opportunities for the participants... and oh yeah... great food and hospitality provided by the TCS 4 team. Folks in the room were treated to a keynote by the "Father of Framemaker," Charles Corfield (nVoq), offering a glimpse at the past and a look at the future. Continue reading ...
TechWhirl is packing up and heading for Atlanta to attend the STC Summit. If you're planning to be there, stop by our booth and say hi. And, if you'd like to contribute to our Pinterest Board or Storify curations, we're always happy to oblige. Continue reading ...
Tech Writer This Week heads into some new territories, with a new topic area, and some controversy in our old standbys. First in the standbys is Technical Communication. I'd venture a guess that most people think of technical writers as the quiet sort (I do my best to fly under the radar). But being quiet doesn't mean we shy away from controversy. Peruse User Experience and then Content Strategy & Curation. Dive into our new area of Customer Experience Management, and finish off with some Career and Life goodies. Continue reading ...