The following is a guest post by Akshay Bardia, a technical writer in Mumbai, India. Technical communicators work odd hours of the day as we cater to clients in different parts of the world. So, you could find yourself yawning on the Tokyo shift, worrying about the traffic on the way back in the normal shift, or dozing off during the West coast shift. If … more »

The following is a guest post by Lopa Mishra, a technical writer in Mumbai, India. At a college reunion party recently, someone asked me what job I’m pursuing. On replying that I’m a writer, a friend jumped in to clarify that I’m a “technical” writer. My friend considers that technical writing has nothing to do with creativity, contrary to “plain” writing which is a highly … more »

Rahul Prabhakar, editor of the TechCraft newsletter, which accompanies the Technical Writers of India listserv, published an interview with me in the latest issue (June 2008). You can read it here: Techcraft e-Newsletter Volume 38 June 2008. It’s in the “Spotlight” section near the end.

K. writes, Dear Mr. Tom Johnson, I am a Post Graduate in English. Recently I am working in a leading public house as writer. How can I become a successful TECHNICAL WRITER? Please reply me as soon as possible. K. Dear K, The best thing you can do to develop your skills and ability with technical writing is to actually do some technical writing. Find … more »

Kalyani from Saudi Arabia writes, My name is Kalyani. I am 37 yrs old and live in Saudi Arabia. I have finished my Diploma in Electronics (4 year course). I was working at Hewlett Packard in India before moving to Saudi. In this country, women have very few opportunities to work i.e., only in the schools or hospitals. I chose to work in the school … more »

I listened to several excellent podcasts this week that I want to recommend to others. Networking for Freelancers, Work-at-Homers, and Other Professionals In this podcast on networking by the STC Washington D.C. chapter, Carolyn Kelley Klinger interviews two experts on the value of networking. Although I’ve never been aggressive in my networking, this podcast made me realize that my blog and podcast are infinitely valuable … more »