Technical writing skills that increase your value
Technical writing is a challenging field because technology is constantly reshaping how we deliver information. By keeping up with these changes, you can increase your reputation as an expert and add...
View ArticleRoboHelp basics
RoboHelp is an industry-standard tool for creating user assistance. Let's chat a bit about the basics of creating help with this tool.Adobe RoboHelp is a topic-oriented tool. Each topic has an...
View ArticleContent reuse the easy way
For years you've been hearing about how structured authoring and XML-based workflows can help technical authors reuse content more efficiently. By converting all of your topics to an XML standard,...
View Article10 reasons to stop printing manuals
Is your company still producing printed manuals? If so, there are many reasons to consider converting these documents to an electronic format. For example, portable devices such as tablet PCs and smart...
View ArticleStructured authoring | 10 questions to ease the transition
If your technical writing team is considering a move to structure authoring, you'll probably want to answer some fundamental questions before investing in tools or a specific workflow. Here are some...
View ArticleMajor documentation mistakes | Are you making them?
Do you want to leave your users feeling confused and frustrated? Writing great documentation can be an uphill battle if you aren't aware of the pitfalls. Success depends on teaching the many skills...
View ArticleTurning document reviews around quickly
Hitting deadlines can be a real hassle when document reviews don't go as planned. Here are some tips for getting reviewers to provide feedback efficiently.Provide a documentation schedule, so that...
View ArticleHow technical writing committees keep things moving
How many times have you seen great ideas fall through the cracks as higher priorities steal your team's attention? Technical writing teams have to juggle a lot of priorities, and sometimes we have to...
View ArticleIncrease your income
Part of the reason many of us become technical writers is because it offers high rates of pay compared to other writing jobs. Here are a few ideas for maximizing the financial rewards of your technical...
View ArticleTechnical writing and efficiency
Writing technical documents is a complicated process. Even more so if you work in a large department, producing many documents for multiple products. Working efficiently is important if you want to...
View ArticleYou put WHAT in your user manual?!
Ok, so I cheated and chose a title for this post that would grab your attention. But there's a good reason. You see, writing a user manual is a tricky business. You have to inform your customers in an...
View Article7 tips for technical writing students
Fifteen years ago, I was a sleep deprived student slogging my way through a technical writing program in hopes of finding a job. I didn't really know what it was like to work in the field; however, I...
View ArticleThis simple trick can make your documents more engaging immediately
Technical writing is generally boring. Not so much the process, but the documents themselves. We can plunge into an endless debate about whether writers should inject humor or other elements to pull...
View ArticleThe Boss hates your document! How to fix it
You've spent the last month as a contract worker struggling with a tedious user manual. Finally, you create the PDF, hand it over for delivery, and head home with a feeling of satisfaction. But... to...
View ArticleTechnical writing unchained - a custom approach to help authoring
After a decade of writing documentation for high-quality products using robust authoring tools, I've often wondered... what approach would I take if I was doing this just for fun, with no restrictions?...
View ArticleWhich kind of technical writer are you?
When you work in a large technical writing department, it becomes very obvious that we all have different strengths and weaknesses. A great manager will hire writers with different skills to increase...
View ArticleSmall business information management strategies
The amount of information modern businesses collect and distribute can be overwhelming. Even for smaller businesses, poor planning can have a negative impact on efficiency and scalability. By creating...
View Article6 ways to improve your help authoring workflow
Technical writing isn't just about producing documents -- it is a business function. For most of us the ultimate goal is to increase the overall profitability of our organization. By increasing the...
View ArticleTechnical Writing Career Advice from 11 Experts
A technical writing career is guaranteed to be filled with challenges. Technology is constantly changing, roles are shifting, and best practices are evolving. Wouldn't it be great if you could get the...
View ArticleGet What You Need Right Now To Become A Successful Writer
This is a guest post by www.onlineschools.org.It is nothing short of remarkable that the Internet has afforded us so much in recent years. The ability to effortlessly find information, work from home,...
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