Documentation and Training East 2007 Registration Now Open

July 7, 2007 Blog No Comments

Documentation and Training 2007 EAST has a full line up of speakers and presentations to get your career moving in the right direction. The leading talents in the industry will be at DocTrain EAST, getting you up to speed on the latest trends and technologies in authoring, managing, designing, and delivering your valuable content. This conference is our largest ever, spanning 5 days. Workshops and presentations revolve around eight customized tracks and a Management Summit (at no extra charge) designed to help documentation, training, and support center managers gain insight …

Most Documentation Managers Don’t Use Metrics As Performance Measure

May 15, 2007 Blog 3 Comments

If a recent survey of technical documentation managers (conducted by TechCom Manager) is any indication, most managers do not use metrics as a performance measure when evaluating the writers that work for them. This is, in our view, something that needs to change. Not using metrics as a performance measure is an issue that needs addressed. It’s important to note that failing to use metrics indicates both a lack of professional management skills and a lack of awareness about content quality management software—tools designed to automatically collect performance metrics, among …

Documentation and Training East: Moving Your Career Forward (October 16-19, 2007)

April 23, 2007 Blog No Comments

Held in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, Lowell, Massachusetts (a quick shuttle ride from Boston’s Logan International Airport), the theme of the 8th Bi-Annual Documentation & Training Conference is Advancing Your Career. No, you won’t see any resume writing or online portfolio workshops at this event. And no, they’ll be no advanced Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks classes either. Instead, you’ll be exposed to new tools, technologies, and standards that can help you improve your value as a communication professional. And, you’ll be challenged to think differently about …

One Writer’s Revelation: Major Health Complications Result From Lack of Work/Exercise Balance

March 30, 2007 Blog No Comments

By Martha Tucker, Special to TheContentWrangler.com Most writers have dangerous issues they pay little or no attention to until it’s too late–their health! And yet, health can be more of a problem than writer’s block, complications of concentration, writing anxiety, daily output frustration and editor angst. What I’m talking about is sitting-related diseases. It took me five years to write my novel, The Mayor’s Wife Wore Sapphires, and all during that time, I had to work at keeping healthy. First of all, I was gaining weight. Then came cold feet …

TechComm 2006: The Year In Review

December 29, 2006 Blog No Comments

This year was an active one for the field of technical communication. New tools and technologies made their mark on our profession, while new pressures and business goals began to impact the way we see ourselves, our role in the organization, and our place in the communication spectrum. In this end-of-the-year report for TechCom Manager magazine, we take a look at some of the year’s most important developments in the field of technical communication and make a few predictions of importance to documentation managers for 2007. © Chris Harvey – …

Podcast: How to Increase Collaboration and Performance – Interview With Emma Hamer

November 28, 2006 Blog No Comments

In this TechWriterVoices.com podcast, Tom Johnson interviews performance improvement guru Emma Hamer. The discussion is an excellent and important one, focusing on how to set up the ideal collaborative workspace, overcoming fear of change, and addressing other common change-related problems in the workplace. Topics include: Helping writers cope with major changes (such as implementing a CMS) Understanding the difference between a group and a team Radically increasing collaboration and communication on project teams Changing the way your workspace is organized Encouraging your employees to present great ideas Dealing with lack …

Technical Writing: The New Black Gold Of India

November 22, 2006 Blog No Comments

If you’ve wondered whether India and its expanding network of 5,000 English-speaking tech writers will play a role in the globalization of technical communication, look no further. In Tech Writing: The New Black Gold Of India (The Economic Times), Rahul Prabhakar, 27, who runs a network called the Technical Writers of India says: “With many software development jobs moving to India, support functions like writing are moving base too.” According to him, this is due to two factors – more competitive costs, and quality “which is improving”. Higher paying tech …

One Tech Writer’s “Lifework” Spawns An Information Architecture Career

November 17, 2006 Blog No Comments

By Thom Haller, special to TheContentWrangler.com I wasn’t born an information architect. I couldn’t even figure out what I was going to do when I grew up. I thought, somehow, a career would materialize in a dream—that I would wake one morning and say, “I’m going to be a management trainee!” I felt like it was only a matter of time before I would don a dark-colored suit, surround myself with facts and figures, and hammer out business decisions that were good for the organization. But this urge never struck. …

Technical Writers, Editors, Curriculum Developers Rated Top Jobs Again in 2006

November 15, 2006 Blog No Comments

Again this year, CNN Money has rated technical writing as one of the Best Jobs in America (13 out of 50). According to the survey, US Technical Writers earn an average of $57,841, with 75% of all tech writers earning more than $48,856, or total compensation of $49,718 when bonuses and benefits are added to the mix. Job growth in the US for technical communicators is expected to continue rising. In 2004 there were an estimated 50,354 technical writing positions in the US. The forecast for 2014: 62,044. It’s no …

Freelance Writers Create Success with High Tech Clients

November 6, 2006 Blog No Comments

By Janice King, special to TheContentWrangler.com Like the contestants on TV’s Beauty and the Geek, I too have found a lot to love about working with technology clients. Every technology company needs marketing communication and public relations services, and freelance writers who can handle technical material will remain in demand. High-tech marketing projects are often intellectually challenging and require strong writing skills. Technology continually offers new subjects to learn and the opportunity to build expertise that attracts loyal, long-term clients. And, you may never hear higher praise for your work …