Tom Johnson

In this blog I try to keep you updated about the latest trends in technical communication. As a field, technical communication encompasses many areas, but I like to focus on the following topics:

• technical writing
• information architecture
• content strategy
• screencasting
• visual design

Where Do You Live and Work?

I live in Utah and work as a senior technical writer for the LDS Church in Salt Lake City. Yes, it’s a little different working in a church, but I’m in a large IT department working alongside other IT professionals who all help to create applications, sites, and other tools for a body of more than 14 million people.

Were You Always a Technical Writer?

Like most tech writers, I stumbled into technical writing after working in other fields. I previously taught composition for two years at The American University in Cairo (Egypt), and then I worked as a copywriter in Florida.

After a while, I realized I needed more money to support my family, so I turned to technical writing and started working for a financial company, Raymond James. I worked there for a couple of years before heading out west to Utah, where I worked at EMC and then later took at job at the LDS Church. I’ve found that technical writing combines my love for writing, my drive to create, and my fascination with technology.

What’s Your Educational Background?

I earned my undergraduate in English at Brigham Young University in Utah. After BYU, I earned an MFA in literary nonfiction at Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

My degree in literary nonfiction carries over to the writing style on this blog. At times, I try to infuse my posts with story and literary devices, weaving narrative with exploration of a topic. My favorite genre is the personal essay. Some of my good posts, I like to think, are like mini-personal essays.

Do You Have a Personal Life?

Yes, I’m married and have four children. My wife, Shannon, also has a blog (called Seagull Fountain). We met at BYU in the Writing Fellows program (she was an English major too). We have four girls—all the under the age of 11. It’s a houseful, with lots of squealing and drama. Besides family, I like to play basketball, hike, read books, and explore new places.

How Do I Contact You?

If you have a question for me, or just want to drop me a line, send your feedback to the e-mail address below. To provide general feedback, feel free to leave a comment on my blog wall.

Tom Johnson
tom@idratherbewriting.com
Utah, USA

By the way, here’s a QR code with my contact information. Take a picture of with a QR code decoder app and you’ll be able to add these details to your mobile device:

(By the way, as a standard disclaimer, the views expressed on my blog are my opinions only and do not necessarily reflect The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)