2014 archives
Various Site updates: Added third column with dynamic sidebar, and more | Dec 29, 2014
Question: Where are API documentation jobs for technical writers located? | Dec 24, 2014
API doc survey: Authoring tools preferred by API documentation writers | Dec 24, 2014
Learning how developers think, and other API doc insights: Podcast with Joe Malin | Dec 22, 2014
API doc survey: The most common programming languages tech writers know | Dec 22, 2014
API doc survey: The most popular type of APIs that technical writers document | Dec 17, 2014
Getting a job in API documentation: Podcast with Andrew Davis | Dec 17, 2014
I need your responses to my API Documentation Survey | Dec 12, 2014
Authoring tools for startups -- Guest post by Vinish Garg | Dec 11, 2014
Podcast download stats kind of mind-blowing | Dec 9, 2014
DITA: Glossary terms and acronyms | Dec 4, 2014
Free from limitations and imaginary lines | Dec 4, 2014
Convert Markdown Content to DITA in 20 seconds | Dec 3, 2014
The Upcoming TC Camp Unconference and my morning API workshop | Nov 28, 2014
Upcoming API Workshop with Sarah Maddox | Nov 28, 2014
Tech comm on a map: See all the tech comm groups, meetups, conferences, events, and consultants on a Google map | Nov 25, 2014
Dynamic content filtering with OxygenXML's webhelp output | Nov 19, 2014
Add a mini-TOC to your OxygenXML webhelp topics | Nov 13, 2014
Crystal Springs Reservoir ride, and other details | Nov 9, 2014
Impressions from my first Write the Docs meetup | Nov 8, 2014
The Evolution of Technical Writing | Nov 7, 2014
Flat file systems versus database models for help | Nov 5, 2014
The Author Experience -- Interview with Rick Yagodich | Nov 5, 2014
Simplifying DITA authoring by using a Markdown to HTML to DITA workflow | Oct 29, 2014
Celebrating Lucy and her timeline | Oct 28, 2014
Santa Clara to San Carlos bike ride | Oct 26, 2014
API and SDK documentation: Notes from Ed Marshall's Workshop at Information Development World | Oct 25, 2014
Slides and recording for "Perfecting the audio narration in instructional video" at Info Dev World | Oct 23, 2014
Upcoming presentation at #InfoDevWorld: "Perfecting the Audio Narration in Instructional Videos" | Oct 21, 2014
DocOps: Interview with Jim Turcotte | Oct 21, 2014
San Francisco city-to-ferry loop bicycle ride | Oct 19, 2014
Biking trip to Yosemite | Oct 16, 2014
API Doc presentation slides and recording (San Francisco STC chapter) | Oct 16, 2014
Import DITA's XHTML Output into WordPress | Oct 14, 2014
Outside the tech comm tool bubble, there is a wide, wide world | Oct 9, 2014
Why developers will never adopt DITA | Sep 30, 2014
Natural Bridges | Sep 28, 2014
Maisie's peak and more | Sep 28, 2014
Two major Confluence problems: poor content re-use and lack of wiki markup | Sep 24, 2014
Using collapsible sections to bring tasks and concepts together (DITA) | Sep 22, 2014
Foreword to Developing User Assistance for Mobile Apps, 2nd Edition | Sep 19, 2014
Adding code comments through a sliding jQuery Sidr panel (DITA) | Sep 16, 2014
STC Intercom Issue Entirely Dedicated to API Documentation | Sep 10, 2014
Using WordPress natively for single source publishing and conditional content | Sep 8, 2014
Upcoming presentation in downtown San Francisco: Publishing strategies for API documentation | Sep 2, 2014
Challenges in using WordPress for publishing DITA content | Sep 2, 2014
Thirteen life hacks | Sep 1, 2014
Author in DITA, publish with WordPress | Aug 19, 2014
Woes of conditional text and topichead elements (DITA best practices) | Aug 10, 2014
Benefits of tool diversity, part II | Aug 7, 2014
Is tool fragmentation in tech comm a good thing? | Aug 5, 2014
Reviewing draft DITA content with subject matter experts: 6 essential points | Jul 31, 2014
My DITA quick reference guide (QRG) | Jul 30, 2014
Book Review: The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt | Jul 27, 2014
Writing documentation in an interactive world: Some thoughts on using easyDITA and OxygenXML | Jul 25, 2014
The part of the brain you should listen to when writing | Jul 16, 2014
Content Re-use is so much better with DITA (and esp. with OxygenXML) | Jun 29, 2014
Strategies for content re-use in Confluence | Jun 24, 2014
10 technical writing principles to live by | Jun 20, 2014
Information Development World and the Customer Experience -- A Podcast with Scott Abel and Val Swisher | Jun 18, 2014
Introduction to API documentation: Interview with Scot Marvin | Jun 16, 2014
Started a new job | Jun 12, 2014
Lessons learned as a novice API technical writer -- Interview with Mary Linderman (podcast) | Jun 8, 2014
The future of tech comm is developer doc | Jun 3, 2014
Creating code samples for API/SDK documentation (webinar recording, slides, and audio) | May 30, 2014
How to embed looping videos on your web page | May 18, 2014
My Intercom article on gamification and user engagement | May 18, 2014
Recording of my STC Sacramento presentation -- Why users can't find answers in help material | May 18, 2014
What does DITA-structured help look like? | May 15, 2014
Complex tools versus simple tools | May 10, 2014
Upcoming webinar: Creating code samples for API/SDK documentation | May 9, 2014
DITA: Nested subheadings and the concept element | May 8, 2014
DITA: Limitations with the chunk="to-content" attribute in relationship tables | May 2, 2014
DITA hierarchical links, related links, short descriptions, and one-folder organization | May 1, 2014
DITA: Why DITA, metadata, working in code and author views, and relationship tables | Apr 25, 2014
DITA: Folder hierarchy, conref, mapref, and more | Apr 22, 2014
My DITA journey begins | Apr 16, 2014
The need for robust tech comm authoring tools | Apr 13, 2014
Strategies for using links with DITA | Apr 8, 2014
STC Chapter provides lavish "all expenses paid" outing to San Diego zoo for members | Apr 1, 2014
Now that debts are paid off, plan to travel the world for a year, documenting things | Apr 1, 2014
Dita Von Teese to give keynote at DITA North America 2014 Conference | Apr 1, 2014
New hot coals event to be highlight at Lavacon conference | Apr 1, 2014
The Content Wrangler Announces New 52 Mini-Conference Model | Apr 1, 2014
Using metadata to control online navigation through portlets | Mar 27, 2014
Writing skills versus technical skills, or, What I realized in solving a Sudoku puzzle | Mar 19, 2014
soap! A new conference for technical writers in Poland | Mar 18, 2014
Two months after leaving the church -- an update | Mar 16, 2014
Do I need to take courses in technical writing? Guest post by Laura Palmer | Mar 7, 2014
Videos and reflections from the 2014 Intelligent Content Conference | Mar 3, 2014
Tobi Crabtree on Virtual Agents (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Val Swisher on Translation Without Borders at Intelligent Content 2014 | Mar 3, 2014
Noz Urbina on The Biological Imperative for Intelligent Content (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Mark Baker on Every Page Is Page One (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Rahel Bailie on the Language of Content Strategy (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Don Day on Connecting Intelligent Content with Micropublishing (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Theresa Putkey on Diagnosing and Solving Content Problems (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Kyle Wiens on gamification and iFixit / Dozuki at Intelligent Content 2014 | Mar 3, 2014
Sarah O'Keefe on The Many Facets of Content Strategy (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Marcia Riefer Johnston on Writing (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Tom Johnson on Blogging (Intelligent Content 2014) | Mar 3, 2014
Writers needed for Intercom issue on API documentation | Feb 26, 2014
A simple way to write, edit, and publish documentation online using Google Docs and Markdown | Feb 25, 2014
How can we know something that is totally unfamiliar to us? | Feb 20, 2014
An argument for complexity rather than simplicity in technical communication | Feb 7, 2014
Gamification and user engagement in e-learning and documentation | Feb 4, 2014
Will structure and style make documentation processes less costly? | Jan 26, 2014
Growing trends for APIs and my favorite resources to learn technical information | Jan 20, 2014
Upcoming interviews at the Intelligent Content Conference | Jan 16, 2014
Why I left the Mormon church | Jan 16, 2014
Single-page docs versus "Click Insanity" | Jan 12, 2014
Upcoming presentation to Sacramento STC Chapter on Jan 16 | Jan 12, 2014
Tips for writing code comments in developer documentation | Jan 11, 2014
Recording of STC Berkeley presentation on why users can't find answers in help | Jan 8, 2014
DITA's output does not require separation of tasks from concepts | Jan 5, 2014
The appeal of DITA | Jan 4, 2014
Upcoming API Workshop in San Jose on Feb 8, 2014 | Jan 1, 2014
About Tom Johnson
I'm an API technical writer based in the Seattle area. On this blog, I write about topics related to technical writing and communication — such as software documentation, API documentation, AI, information architecture, content strategy, writing processes, plain language, tech comm careers, and more. Check out my API documentation course if you're looking for more info about documenting APIs. Or see my posts on AI and AI course section for more on the latest in AI and tech comm.
If you're a technical writer and want to keep on top of the latest trends in the tech comm, be sure to subscribe to email updates below. You can also learn more about me or contact me. Finally, note that the opinions I express on my blog are my own points of view, not that of my employer.