2020 archives
Cherryleaf collects tech writer goals for 2021 | Dec 27, 2020
Moving to Seattle and making housing decisions using virtual tools | Dec 11, 2020
Job transition: from Amazon to Google | Dec 3, 2020
Content Strategy Insights podcast with Larry Swanson about API documentation | Dec 2, 2020
The most perfect 17-mile biking loop in Santa Clara | Nov 28, 2020
Finished up the section on documentation processes (for now) | Nov 26, 2020
New API course article: Processes for changing internal doc culture | Nov 26, 2020
New API course article: Processes for external contributors | Nov 26, 2020
Documentation templates and The Good Docs Project -- guest post by Ankita Tripathi | Nov 17, 2020
The story behind Document360 -- podcast with founder Saravana Kumar | Nov 17, 2020
Process for collecting feedback post-release (new article in API doc course) | Nov 16, 2020
How does Document360 handle challenges with API documentation? | Nov 10, 2020
Write the Docs Podcast episode 32: Self-publishing and AsciiDoc, with Mehmed Pasic | Nov 2, 2020
Processes for maintaining existing documentation (new article in API doc course) | Oct 30, 2020
Developer experience (DevX) usability (new article in API doc course) | Oct 12, 2020
Does working outside with the world as your office actually work? | Oct 8, 2020
Coffee and Content webinar recording: Treat Code Like Code; Treat Prose Like Prose | Oct 2, 2020
New article in API course: Processes for reviewing documentation | Sep 23, 2020
On cultivating a garden while the world is crumbling around you | Sep 18, 2020
SmartBear's 2020 API report finds 'Accurate and detailed documentation' to be second-most important characteristic of APIs | Sep 10, 2020
Write the Docs Podcast episode 31: Site search, with Peter Levan | Sep 9, 2020
Redocly tutorial added to API course | Sep 8, 2020
New article in API course -- Questions to ask during a documentation kickoff and demo | Sep 2, 2020
Inexpensive media hosting and CLI uploading with Wasabi? | Sep 1, 2020
ISTC article on developer documentation trends | Aug 31, 2020
Playing a product design role as a content designer -- podcast with Jonathon Colman | Aug 24, 2020
When 10X translates into -10X: debunking the myth of the 10X technical coder/writer | Aug 20, 2020
SDK release process article added to API doc course | Aug 19, 2020
DX content strategy article added to API doc course | Aug 19, 2020
Processes for managing large documentation projects and small documentation requests | Aug 13, 2020
Webinar -- Optimizing Content Development: Grow Your Content Faster Than You Grow Your Team | Aug 13, 2020
Part VI: Results from the survey correlating org models and tech writer value | Jul 26, 2020
A tip for doc reviews -- bring a list of questions | Jul 24, 2020
Write the Docs Podcast episode 30: Documentation templates, with Juan Lara | Jul 20, 2020
Writing productivity tip: Focus sessions | Jul 12, 2020
Part VI: Conclusion, analysis, and feedback | Jul 1, 2020
Part V: On being strategic, interpersonal, and sponsored | Jul 1, 2020
Part IV: Engaging deep enough to blur the lines between content and product design | Jul 1, 2020
Part III: Correlating organization models with low value estimations | Jul 1, 2020
Part II: Personal layoff stories and reasons | Jul 1, 2020
Part I: Introduction and background | Jul 1, 2020
Developer portal strategies for complex landscapes -- conversation with Kristof van Tomme | Jun 24, 2020
What makes a good covid sign? | Jun 18, 2020
Treat code like code and prose like prose | Jun 16, 2020
Diversity in tech comm -- Conversation with John Paz | Jun 12, 2020
What's the point of site search? | Jun 12, 2020
Making a comfortable office environment when working from home is harder than it seems | Jun 4, 2020
API the Docs recording: How Trends in API Documentation Differ from other Tech Comm Trends | Jun 4, 2020
WTD Australia event recording -- 'Remote discussion: Techcomm in the times of pandemic' | May 31, 2020
Guest post: Why are technical writers often treated as such an unimportant part of a company? | May 31, 2020
Results of Pandemic Impact on Tech Comm survey | May 26, 2020
Podcast: Building Great Documentation -- WAPI FM radio hour | May 7, 2020
Short survey about quarantine/pandemic impact on tech comm | May 7, 2020
Connecting micro content with search analytics -- notes on the first MadCap Flare and MadCap Central 2020 Release | May 7, 2020
A user manual for your death? | Apr 28, 2020
API doc course update: Re-architecting the OpenAPI spec tutorials to start with visual modeling tools first, then code | Apr 28, 2020
My Knowledgebase Ninjas podcast episode -- Metrics don't work | Apr 15, 2020
API The Docs Virtual Series 2020 -- Upcoming presentations and thoughts on the virtual format | Apr 14, 2020
Write the Docs Podcast episode 29: Salary Survey results and WFH tips, with Eric Holscher | Apr 13, 2020
Are technical writers increasingly playing non-technical roles? Some thoughts on the evolution of technical writing roles | Mar 30, 2020
Podcast: Users as producers of knowledge -- conversation with Nupoor Ranade about how tech writer roles are changing | Mar 29, 2020
Staying updated about what developers are changing -- my techniques for information sleuthing | Mar 26, 2020
Write the Docs Podcast episode 28: UX writing processes and considerations | Mar 24, 2020
Tech comm podcasts are growing -- here's a list | Mar 24, 2020
Life on reset -- new dynamics emerging | Mar 23, 2020
Working from home — things I've bought | Mar 22, 2020
How life has changed with the pandemic | Mar 16, 2020
Webinar recording: How Trends in API Documentation Differ from other Tech Comm Trends | Mar 12, 2020
Introduction to API documentation - Recording from Los Angeles API documentation workshop | Mar 11, 2020
Is there a place for exploratory writing in the workplace? | Mar 10, 2020
Podcast: How Paligo is filling a niche in the CCMS market for complex documentation, with Anders Svensson | Mar 9, 2020
The Manuscript Podcast, with Breno Barreto -- Episode 2, How technical should a tech writer be? | Mar 8, 2020
Checklist of different types of API docs | Feb 25, 2020
Podcast with Andrew Davis: Hiring API doc writers -- an inside look at fixing broken processes | Feb 23, 2020
Write the Docs Podcast episode 27: Starting a doc group/process when you're the first | Feb 21, 2020
*How* you write influences *what* you write — interpreting trends through movements from PDF to web, DITA, wikis, CCMSs, and docs-as-code | Feb 20, 2020
New podcast: Unifying Technical Content Sets into a Broader Ecosystem, with Cruce Sanders at [A] | Feb 14, 2020
Tools FAQ for API doc site | Feb 13, 2020
Autonomous Agile Teams and Enterprise Content Strategy: An Impossible Combination? | Feb 13, 2020
From API docs to developer portals | Feb 9, 2020
Site update: Switched from Disqus to Commento | Jan 30, 2020
What is a DITA Content Management System (CMS)? guest post by John Baker | Jan 27, 2020
Learning about event planning -- life pro tips from Jack Molisani | Jan 24, 2020
Updated Intro to API documentation topic | Jan 9, 2020
Reflections on my 2019 site analytics | Jan 8, 2020
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.