--- title: "I’d Rather Be Writing blog" description: "{% for post in paginator.posts %} {{ post.title }} {{ post.date | date:" canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/page156/ --- # I’d Rather Be Writing blog [STC Conference: John Daigle on RoboHelp 7](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-john-daigle-on-robohelp-7/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: John, an Adobe community expert for RoboHelp, shares his reaction to the RoboHelp 7 sneak peak, and also explains the main features RoboHelp 7 will have: drag-and-drop functionality across the topics, double-byte language support for translation, the ability to have multiple topics open at the same time, snippets with graphics, removal of kadov tags, automatic breadcrumbs, and tighter integration with other ... [STC Conference: Debbie Kennedy on Modular Writing and Reusability](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-debbie-kennedy-on-modular-writing-and-reusability/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Debbie's presentation on modular writing and reusability was attended by about 200 people. In her presentation, Debbie explained how to chunk content by first looking at different content types: procedures, processes, facts, principles, and so forth. She also mentions a tool called Content Mapper that writers can use to chunk and reuse information through Microsoft Word. A trial version of the DITA version o... [STC Conference: Joan Lasselle on Adopting Content Management](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-joan-lasselle-on-adopting-content-management/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Joan, from Lasselle-Ramsay, gives tips for adopting content management, and explains one of the biggest mistakes people make: choosing the tool first and then trying to make it fit their organization's needs. Joan also talks about how to measure success with CMS projects, and how to determine whether your organization needs a CMS. Sponsored [STC Conference: Cindy Skawinski on Activity Diagrams (Uniform Modeling Language Artifacts)](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-cindy-skawinski-on-activity-diagrams-uniform-modeling-language-artifacts/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Cindy explains how technical communicators can draw upon visual process flows called UML artifacts to create their documentation. These process flows, also called activity diagrams, visually represent the use cases for software. Based on uniform modeling language, these artifacts/diagrams can also be deliverables that technical communicators create to expand their role beyond mere writers. Sponsored ... [STC Conference: Adrienne Escoe on Recruiting](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-adrienne-escoe-on-recruiting/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Adrienne talks about essential characteristics that recruiters must have to attract writers. Recruiters must have good ethics, energy, listening and communication skills. Sponsored [STC Conference: Teresa Lipus, Snake River chapter, Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-teresa-lipus-snake-river-chapter-southern-idaho-and-eastern-oregon/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Teresa shares her reaction to the new definition of technical communication, and reflects on Saul Carliner's panel question, “What are we?” She talks about the problems associated with defining such a diverse group of communicators, and also gives tips for editing with tact. Sponsored [STC Conference: Deanne Levander, Twin Cities, Minnesota Chapter, and John Garison, Vermont](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-deanne-levandar-twin-cities-minnesota-chapter/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Deanne, host chapter president of the Twin Cities chapter, talks about the emerging trend of Web 2.0. She also comments on the need to change our image from writer to communicator. John, a consultant from Vermont, also explains how writers must go beyond just writing and instead branch into other areas, such as information architecture and usability. Both Deanne and John, former teachers of technical communi... [STC Conference: Laurel Bowen, Oakridge Tennessee Chapter](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-in-minneapolis-laurel-bowen/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Laurel talks about Web 2.0 and the evolving, changing Web. She explains how Web 2.0 technologies, particularly interactive social sites, can benefit the federal government by helping gather information from the public in interactive ways. Sponsored [STC Conference: Brad Simmons, Ames, Iowa](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-in-minneapolis-brad-simmons-ames-iowa/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Brad, a graduate student in the Rhetoric and Technical Communication program at Iowa State University, talks about the issue of academic knowledge versus real world experience. He says it is importance for technical communicators to be more than scribes. Brad also shares his feedback on RoboHelp 7, and provides tips for students to gain the tool knowledge they need for the workplace. Sponsored ... [STC Conference: Michael Gernes, Central Iowa STC Community](/2007/05/19/stc-conference-in-minneapolis-michael-gernes-central-iowa-stc-community/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Michael says his favorite session was Web 2.0, and explains the difficulty of getting a large organization to adopt some of the Web 2.0 technologies. He comments on the challenge of getting your voice heard in a large organization. Sponsored [Leadership Day: Jackie Damrau, Dallas, Texas, and Rachel Houghton, Willamette Valley, Oregon](/2007/05/19/leadership-day-jackie-damrau-dallas-texas-and-rachel-houghton-willamette-valley-oregon/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Jackie talks about the Learning Resource Center's new online training modules for chapter leaders. These modules will give guidance to anyone coming into a community leadership position. Rachel talks about using XML in a command-line structure and also gives feedback on RoboHelp 7. Sponsored [Leadership Day: Jeanette Rogers, Seattle, Instructional Design & Learning SIG](/2007/05/19/leadership-day-jeanette-rogers-seattle-instructional-design-learning-sig/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Jeanette, based in Seattle and part of the IDL SIG, talks about the importance of applying learning theory to e-learning and other multimedia deliverables. She compares Captivate versus Mimic, and expands on ways that SIGs go beyond simple listservs. Sponsored [Leadership Day: Lorrie Corbett, Philadelphia Metro Chapter](/2007/05/19/leadership-day-lorrie-corbett-philadelphia-metro-chapter/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Next year's conference is in Philadelphia. Lorrie gives some tips for recruiting volunteers and preventing existing volunteers from burning out. She also talks about the importance of modernizing the STC office's technology, and provides her reaction to the new definition of the technical writer. Sponsored [Leadership Day: Hillary Hart, Austin Chapter](/2007/05/19/leadership-day-hillary-hart-austin-chapter/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Hillary says she's taking home a new perception about the STC's support of chapters (which was previously questionable). As a professor at the University of Texas, she's also interested in the collaborations between academic and industry practitioners, and is excited about getting the profession defined, accepted, and more valued. She also says she hasn't noticed any attrition among tech comm. students in th... [Leadership Day: Todd Race, Toronto chapter, Canadian Issues Group](/2007/05/19/leadership-day-todd-race-toronto-chapter-canadian-issues-group/) May 19, 2007 • [podcasts]( /category-podcasts) Listen here: Todd explains some of the issues involved with the Canadian Issues group. He explains why chapter PR is so important, and how getting a list of local media together to give newspapers and other local media can help increase awareness of chapter events. Sponsored [« Previous](/page155/) Page: 156 of 174 [» Next](/page157/) var contents = new Array() // One ad slot, two creatives, same as the sidebar: the new dark State of // Knowledge creative in contents[3] alternates with the light August one // in contents[1]. contents[0] is the dark August creative it replaced -- // paused Sep 21, 2026, and expected back in ~2 months, at which point // swap it in for contents[3]. // contents[0] = '