---
title: "2016 archives"
description: "{% for post in site.posts %} {% capture year %}{{post.date | date:"
canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/archives-2016/index.html
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at https://idratherbewriting.com/llms.txt. Markdown versions of all pages are available by appending .md to any page URL.

# 2016 archives

1. [Generalist versus specialist: What should you focus on with knowledge building in your tech writing role?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/12/20/changing-roles-of-technical-writers/) | Dec 20, 2016
2. [Write the Docs Podcast Episode 2 (which Focuses on Findability) Now Available](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/12/18/write-the-docs-podcast-episode-2-exploring-findability-in-documentation/) | Dec 18, 2016
3. [Updating a single page versus updating the documentation as a whole](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/12/14/higher-level-technical-writing/) | Dec 14, 2016
4. [Write the Docs Podcast episode 1: New podcast from the Write the Docs community](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/11/23/new-podcast-write-the-docs-community/) | Nov 23, 2016
5. [Recording of Open Authoring -- Collaboration Across Disciplines presentation, by Ralph Squillace](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/11/15/recording-of-open-authoring-collaboration-ralph-squillace/) | Nov 15, 2016
6. [Review of Coding for Writers course by Peter Gruenbaum on Udemy](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/11/13/review-of-coding-for-writers-peter-gruenbaum-udacity/) | Nov 13, 2016
7. [Should you ever apologize for something product-related in your documentation? Looking at Apple's dongle documentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/11/06/when-should-you-apologize-in-your-documentation/) | Nov 6, 2016
8. [How to avoid becoming extinct in your technical writing career](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/11/06/how-to-avoid-extinction-in-your-technical-writing-career/) | Nov 6, 2016
9. [How to get crisp text callouts like in Apple's new Touch bar documentation -- and why you might not want to with translation projects](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/11/01/image-sizes-in-apple-touchbar-docs/) | Nov 1, 2016
10. [Markdown or reStructuredText or DITA? Choosing the right format for tech docs](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/28/markdown-or-restructuredtext-or-dita-choosing-format-tech-docs/) | Oct 28, 2016
11. [How to tell if you're a content strategist](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/26/how-to-tell-if-youre-a-content-strategist/) | Oct 26, 2016
12. [Apple's Two-Step Verification versus Two-Factor Authentication, or, When Marketing's lingo makes it impossible to communicate with plain speech](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/25/when-product-names-are-confusing/) | Oct 25, 2016
13. [How to respond to product disasters: Analyzing Samsung's response to their exploding phones in contrast to Dyn's response to the DDoS attack](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/23/how-to-respond-to-product-disasters-samsung-phones-dyn-servers/) | Oct 23, 2016
14. [How to deliver newsletters for your Jekyll site](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/23/jekyll-newsletter-tip/) | Oct 23, 2016
15. [Coding the sidebar navigation element for documentation websites](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/23/coding-sidebar-navigation-for-documentation-websites/) | Oct 23, 2016
16. [From podcasts to audio books and now back to podcasts -- experimenting with a new angle](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/22/from-audio-books-to-podcasts/) | Oct 22, 2016
17. [Saving Your Sanity Through Better Client Relations -- with Alisa Bonsignore](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/18/saving-sanity-better-client-relations-alisa-bonsignore/) | Oct 18, 2016
18. [My gravity towards tools](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/10/17/my-gravity-towards-tools/) | Oct 17, 2016
19. [Zooming out and in with navigation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/09/25/zooming-out-and-in-with-navigation/) | Sep 25, 2016
20. [Kanban may be a better fit than scrum when you support large numbers of engineers](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/09/23/playing-content-curation-publishing-roles/) | Sep 23, 2016
21. [How can technical writers thrive in agile environments? Event recording and details](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/09/20/thriving-in-agile-environments-as-technical-writers/) | Sep 20, 2016
22. [Implementing Swagger in your API documentation -- My ISTC article](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/09/08/swagger-article-for-istc-publication/) | Sep 8, 2016
23. [Recording of Let's Tell a Story -- Scenario-Based Documentation, by Matt Ness (STC Silicon Valley Presentation)](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/09/02/scenario-based-documentation-matt-ness-recording/) | Sep 2, 2016
24. [Balancing the never-ending list of documentation to write with your natural interests and passions](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/09/02/the-never-ending-list-of-tasks-to-complete/) | Sep 2, 2016
25. [The variety of tools tech comm professionals use](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/08/21/survey-of-tech-writing-tools-among-professionals/) | Aug 21, 2016
26. [Presentation recording: Hunting for API developer documentation jobs in the San Francisco Bay area, by Andrew Davis](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/08/15/api-developer-documentation-jobs-san-francisco-bay-area/) | Aug 15, 2016
27. [The complexities of translation and the need for dynamic variables in the build process](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/08/15/translation-complexities-static-site-generations-need-dynamic-variables/) | Aug 15, 2016
28. [Will the docs-as-code approach scale? Responding to comments on my Review of Modern Technical Writing](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/08/01/responding-to-feedback-on-modern-tech-writing-review/) | Aug 1, 2016
29. [The Story of Paligo: A new browser-based CCMS with all the features you'd ever want](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/08/01/paligo-the-story-xml-ccms-in-the-cloud/) | Aug 1, 2016
30. [Review of Andrew Etter's ebook on Modern Technical Writing](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/07/26/modern-technical-writing-review/) | Jul 26, 2016
31. [Applying Tim Ferriss' 4-hour work week rules to tech comm projects](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/07/20/apply-80-20-rule-to-project-management-tech-comm/) | Jul 20, 2016
32. [Thoughts on Transforming Documentation Processes presentation at WTD: Evaluating the trend to treat documentation as code](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/07/15/transforming-documentation-processes-docs-as-code/) | Jul 15, 2016
33. [Context switching and efficiency -- Kanban to the rescue?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/07/13/context-switching-and-efficiency/) | Jul 13, 2016
34. [Why Programming Sucks and the fallacy of documentation in the context of code chaos](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/07/12/why-programming-sucks/) | Jul 12, 2016
35. [Thoughts on Documentation Avoidance for Programmers](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/07/09/programmer-explains-how-to-get-out-of-writing-documentation/) | Jul 9, 2016
36. [How the Solve This! meetup format turned out -- plus some unachieved parallels with the Dead Poet Society](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/30/results-from-solve-this-meetup-format/) | Jun 30, 2016
37. [The difference between marketing writing and technical writing in one small sign](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/28/the-difference-between-marketing-writing-and-technical-writing/) | Jun 28, 2016
38. [A jump in Google traffic due to content quality?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/23/google-bump-in-traffic-why/) | Jun 23, 2016
39. [Attend the "Solve This!" Write the Docs Meetup tomorrow (June 23, 2016)](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/22/solve-this-write-the-docs-meetup/) | Jun 22, 2016
40. [Examples of visual communication in developer documentation with the Android Vocabulary Glossary](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/21/visual-illustrations-for-technical-concepts/) | Jun 21, 2016
41. [My technical communication contribution to the UX Careers Handbook](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/21/technical-writing-chapter-in-ux-careers-book/) | Jun 21, 2016
42. [Advanced formatting with Markdown using Jekyll and Includes](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/06/extending-markdown-in-jekyll-with-includes/) | Jun 6, 2016
43. [More complex user process maps in documentation systems](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/03/more-complex-user-maps-in-documentation-systems/) | Jun 3, 2016
44. [Interested in working as a technical writer at Amazon?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/06/03/developer-documentation-jobs-at-amazon/) | Jun 3, 2016
45. [Examples of linear workflow user maps built with JS and CSS](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/30/building-a-workflow-user-map-with-css-and-js/) | May 30, 2016
46. [8 image translation issues for tech doc — guest post by Jeanine Shepstone](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/26/image-translation-with-technical-documentation-guest-post/) | May 26, 2016
47. [11 images issues for tech doc systems — guest post by Jeanine Shepstone](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/26/image-handling-strategies-guest-post/) | May 26, 2016
48. [Presentation recording: Move Fast And ... Document Things? Lessons learned in building documentation culture at a startup, by Ruthie Bendor](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/22/move-fast-and-document-things/) | May 22, 2016
49. [Recording of 'Move fast and ... document things,' by Ruthie Bendor at Write the Docs](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/22/ruth-move-fast-document-things/) | May 22, 2016
50. [Recording of 'Two great teams that work great together: Bridging the gap between documentation and support,' by Neal Kaplan at Write the Docs](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/22/neal-kaplan-work-together/) | May 22, 2016
51. [Some post-STC Summit thoughts](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/20/conference-recap-and-thoughts-stc-summit-2016/) | May 20, 2016
52. [Slides for Writing Tech Docs Like a Hacker with Jekyll presentation](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/17/slides-for-writing-tech-docs-like-hacker-with-jekyll/) | May 17, 2016
53. [Slides for Documenting REST APIs Workshop — 2016 STC Summit Anaheim, Calif.](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/14/slides-for-api-workshop-stc-summit-anaheim/) | May 14, 2016
54. [How do you establish more context in a topic-based writing model?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/11/establishing-more-context-in-tech-comm/) | May 11, 2016
55. [Getting sharp, clear text in screen captures — and making sense of Retina displays](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/10/visualcommunication_sharp_clear_screenshots/) | May 10, 2016
56. [Jekyll Conf 2016 slides and video: Overcoming Challenges in Using Jekyll for Tech Docs](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/07/slides-for-jekyllconf-overcoming-challenges-with-jekyll/) | May 7, 2016
57. [Creating professional looking graphics in the easiest, simplest way possible](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/05/visualcommunication_noun_project/) | May 5, 2016
58. [Visual communication overview](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/05/01/visualcommunication_course_overview/) | May 1, 2016
59. [Three types of knowledge every technical writer needs to be successful](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/27/triangle-for-tech-comm/) | Apr 27, 2016
60. [Recording of WTD presentation on Video Documentation, by Alicia Avrach](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/24/video-documentation-alicia-avarch-write-the-docs/) | Apr 24, 2016
61. [Recording of STC-SV presentation on the Shape of a Modern Technical Communication Organization, by Sanborn Hodgkins](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/24/shape-of-a-modern-technical-communication-organization/) | Apr 24, 2016
62. [Seeing things from the perspective of a learner](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/20/seeing-things-from-the-perspective-of-a-learner/) | Apr 20, 2016
63. [Eight reasons why documentation fails for users, and what to do about it](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/12/why-good-documentation-is-so-rare/) | Apr 12, 2016
64. [API documentation workshop opportunity at the STC Summit](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/07/api-workshop-stc-summit/) | Apr 7, 2016
65. [Lightning talks from San Francisco Write the Docs meetup](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/04/03/write-the-docs-lightning-talks-san-francisco-2016/) | Apr 3, 2016
66. [Xeditor, a CMS editor for XML content](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/30/xeditor-xml-editor-for-your-cms-or-ccms/) | Mar 30, 2016
67. [REST API documentation workshop recording (STC Sacramento)](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/27/rest-api-workshop-recording-sacramento-stc/) | Mar 27, 2016
68. [Version 5.0 of my Documentation Theme for Jekyll now available](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/23/release-of-documentation-theme-for-jekyll-50/) | Mar 23, 2016
69. [Hi there – Let’s get casual… Guest post by Lavanya Krishnamurthy](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/21/guest-post-casual-tones-in-documentation/) | Mar 21, 2016
70. [Shannon got into Stanford's MA Liberal Arts program](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/13/shannon-got-into-stanford/) | Mar 13, 2016
71. [Selling Girl Scout cookies](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/13/selling-girl-scout-cookies/) | Mar 13, 2016
72. [Starting a new series on visual communication](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/12/new-series-on-visual-communication/) | Mar 12, 2016
73. [10 minute podcast on API technical writing with Ryan Weber on Stitcher](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/03/12/api-technical-writing-podcast-ryan-weber-stitcher/) | Mar 12, 2016
74. [Retrospective — Looking back at the good and bad of previous experiences](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/27/retrospective-on-the-good-and-bad/) | Feb 27, 2016
75. [So People Don't RTFM? Write a FM That's Worth R'ing — Guest post by Marcia Riefer Johnston](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/24/rtfm-guest-post-marcia-riefer-johnston/) | Feb 24, 2016
76. [Lightweight DITA article in Technical Communication Journal](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/23/lightweight-dita-hdita-model/) | Feb 23, 2016
77. [I'm starting a new job at Amazon Lab126](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/21/tom-starts-a-new-job-at-amazon/) | Feb 21, 2016
78. [Answering questions in James Gill's upcoming book, How to Get Started as a Technical Writer](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/21/technical-writing-careers-a-day-in-the-life/) | Feb 21, 2016
79. [What is the ideal tool for developer documentation environments?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/21/ideal-tool-for-developer-doc/) | Feb 21, 2016
80. [Updating from redcarpet and Pygments to Kramdown and Rouge on Github Pages](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/21/bug-with-kramdown-and-rouge-with-github-pages/) | Feb 21, 2016
81. [Why didn't WordPress take off with tech docs?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/16/why-didnt-wordpress-take-off-with-tech-docs/) | Feb 16, 2016
82. [Two upcoming API documentation events this Thursday](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/16/upcoming-stc-webinar-rest-api-documentation-best-practices/) | Feb 16, 2016
83. [Is the only way to plug into a documentation CCMS through DITA/XML?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/12/the-only-big-systems-manage-xml-and-dita/) | Feb 12, 2016
84. [Three models for single source publishing — and challenges with each](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/11/the-problem-with-single-source-publishing/) | Feb 11, 2016
85. [My YAML tutorial in the context of Jekyll](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/08/yaml-tutorial/) | Feb 8, 2016
86. [The third API course from Peter Gruenbaum on Udemy](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/08/third-api-course-from-peter-gruenbaum/) | Feb 8, 2016
87. [Upcoming REST API documentation workshop in Sacramento](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/08/rest-api-documentation-workshop-sacramento-california/) | Feb 8, 2016
88. [New section in API documentation course: The Job Market for API technical Writers](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/02/08/new-section-api-documentation-jobs/) | Feb 8, 2016
89. [Challenges in documenting long JSON objects](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/21/describing-long-json-objects/) | Jan 21, 2016
90. [How to apply agile processes to manage your life's projects](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/21/apply-agile-principles-to-personal-projects/) | Jan 21, 2016
91. [The problem with adopting bleeding-edge tools](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/10/why-simple-tools-become-complex/) | Jan 10, 2016
92. [Spec-driven Development with RAML -- presentation by Michael Stowe to STC Silicon Valley chapter](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/09/michael-stowe-spec-driven-development-stc-sv-presentation/) | Jan 9, 2016
93. [First video for API documentation course -- your feedback?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/07/first-api-doc-course-video/) | Jan 7, 2016
94. [Are technical writing blogs growing or dying?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/05/are-technical-writing-blogs-growing-or-dying/) | Jan 5, 2016
95. [What is the technical writer's role in content marketing?](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/04/content-marketing-to-the-rescue-for-thought-leadership/) | Jan 4, 2016
96. [Analyzing top posts on my blog during 2015 — Deciding between brand versus readership](https://idratherbewriting.com/2016/01/01/analyzing-top-posts-trends-on-idratherbewriting-blog/) | Jan 1, 2016