[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download MP3 Length: 15 min. For the past couple of days I’ve been in Idaho at a pre-professional writing conference at Brigham Young University – Idaho. The purpose of the writing conference is to bring in published novelists, poets, editors, and professional writers to give students a glimpse into the careers they plan to enter. Recommended link: If … more »

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download MP3 Length: 30 min. This is a special podcast for Carly Finseth at Clemson University who is thinking about entering the field of technical writing and wanted to ask me a few questions. After I recorded the podcast, she was kind enough to transcribe it. I polished up the transcription a bit so that it would be … more »

Beginning writers trying to break into the field of technical writing face a paradox: almost all jobs require experience, but they can’t get experience without first having a job. In the past, I’ve recommended that beginning writers create documentation for any open-source project they can find, such as WordPress, Audacity, or projects on SourceForge.net. However, our organization now has about ten open source projects that … more »

Last month I was selected as the Personal Branding Winner of the month from Jason Alba’s Jibber Jobber site. I met Jason Alba at Podcamp SLC last month and enjoyed his easy-going, confident style. He said I should be charging $250 an hour for WordPress consulting, not $75. Jason’s site, Jibber Jobber, is one of the most successful career sites for job seekers and career … more »

What Doc Managers Look for in a Résumé? | Technical Communication Center.

A typical day « Don’t Call Me Tina

Last week a student emailed me with some questions about technical writing. I didn’t have time to respond, so I forwarded the questions to the Techwr-L listserv, where 6-7 people responded. One of the responses, from Keith Hood, caught my attention. Keith unfolded what one might refer to as the “dark side of technical writing.” His response is thought-provoking, and it will make you look … more »

What does a technical writer ‘do’? « CyberText Newsletter

Last week I drove up at Rexburg, Idaho to give a presentation on technical writing to the English majors at Brigham Young University Idaho (BYU-I) as part of their annual Pre-Professional Writing Conference. Most of the students in the group intend to pursue a literary career, such as writing books, editing manuscripts in publishing houses, or teaching literature in college or high school. I was … more »

Results for My 10 Technical Writing Stereo Types Survey | Id Rather Be Writing – Tom Johnson.

Hi Tom, My name is Hannah, and I live in San Antonio, Texas. I found your web site when I typed technical writing in google.com. You have a beautiful family. I am a part-time Accountant for a non-profit organization. I do not enjoy accounting and the desire to write has always been a part of my soul. My desire to write burns in my heart … more »

HelpScribe: Why software is the best technical writing field

Technical Writing: Look Before You Leap | A Technical Communication Community.

A Career in Technical Writing: By the time I get to Phoenix : PoeWar.com Writer’s Resource Center.

Jara writes, I am so glad that I found your blog. I truly need an advice. Initially I got accepted as computer science and business major, however I did not see myself stimulated by it. So I changed to International Relations and Development studies, something I always wanted to study. But now, I am faced with few job prospects. Even though I left to work … more »