Six more weeks of winter (as predicted by various groundhogs across the United States) gives us plenty of time to delve into our topic of “More than 1000 words-techniques for visual communications.” So we’re asking for your ideas and contributions to provide useful and relevant information to your technical communications colleagues. However, six more weeks of winter can’t change the fact that today is the last day of our Meet us in Memphis @WritersUA guest writers contest. Read more of this technical writing article »
Do You Have 1000 Words on Technical Writing and Visual Communications?
During February (and beyond), TechWhirl and Tech Writer Today are focusing on visual communications as it relates to technical writing. Our wonderful Special Writers Unit members are hard at work on some ideas, but this is a topic with many branches that need exploring. So I'm looking for some equally wonderful members of our technical writing community to contribute a guest article (probably 800-1200 words) on a topic related to technical writing and visual communication. Read more of this technical writing article »
TechWhirl: Technical Communications Recap for January 27, 2012
We’re approaching the end of our January focus on back to basics, and this past week as been chock full of all sorts of related topics on the technical writer discussion list and in the magazine. Deadlines, juggling, determining how much or if any documentation all factor into how you view quality and how your organization manages it. That seemed like a good segue to this week’s Technical Writer Poll on quality. And everything segues to our latest contest and the chance to Meet us in Memphis @WritersUA in March. Read more of this technical writing article »
TechWhirl: Technical Communications Recap for January 20, 2012
We hear the phrase “technical communications is at a crossroads,” or something similar, in a flurry of activity about once or twice a year. Perhaps it’s the nature of the technical communications profession to always be at some sort of crossroads, since we are the stewards of efforts to socialize and embed the always-changing technology within our cultures. If that’s true, we may need to start thinking of “change agent” as one of our many monikers. Read more of this technical writing article »
TechWhirl: Technical Communications Recap for January 13, 2012
“Basics” may be one of those words that mean quite different things to different people. Judging from the responses to our new poll on must-have technical communication skills, interviewing (i.e. interviewing subject matter experts) and research skills are two most technical communicators can agree on. But... Read more of this technical writing article »
TechWhirl Tech Writer Recap for January 6, 2012
Two things seem to be de rigueur in professional communications of all types when the New Year rolls around: predictions & trend spotting, and lots of refreshers on the mechanics of writing and editing. Without the aid of high tech crystal balls or tarot cards, TechWhirl’s trend analysis for 2012 appeared this week, and we’ll devote the month of January to getting “Back to Basics.” Read more of this technical writing article »
Thank you MindTouch for naming TechWhirl as one of the Top 10 Most Emergent
Connie and I didn’t get involved with TechWhirl for awards; we bought it because we wanted fame and fortune. Or, we thought it was a neat opportunity to work together and build a group of online resources for technical communicators and so we could be in the heart of the one space after a period [...] Read more of this technical writing article »
Dear Technorati, we are who we say we are
Quick post for Technorati Read more of this technical writing article »
TechWhirl Tech Writer Recap for December 30, 2011
It’s the last weekly recap of 2011, and what a year it’s been. Since taking over TechWhirl in April, we made a lot of changes, on the back end and to what you see, and we are gratified at the response. A whole crew of dedicated volunteers joined the ranks of the Special Writers Unit, delivering more than 100 new articles, and lots of fodder for continuing discussions. The email discussion list welcomed back a few old friends and a number of new ones, and the threads show why the original is still the best in tech comm discussions. Our sponsors have shown tremendous faith and support for our vision to become the go-to spot for all things technical communications. Read more of this technical writing article »