Innovation is hot. Who doesn't want to originate the idea that creates a new process, product, or procedure? When it comes to innovating in practice though, innovation actually becomes pretty hard. By definition innovations are new ideas, methods, or products, and they require creativity and tremendous understanding of a problem. I'm probably like you and … Continue reading Innovation is a team sport
The Technical Writerpreneur: Why the Future of Technical Writing is Entrepreneurial
The future of technical writing is entrepreneurial. Sure, contract positions are becoming more common and those can demand some business acumen. But technical writers are increasingly empowered with tools and autonomy that create the expectation that they either have a broad range of skills, or are able to acquire those skills to get to the … Continue reading The Technical Writerpreneur: Why the Future of Technical Writing is Entrepreneurial
Talking with Josh Fechter about technical writing
I sat down with Josh Fechter to talk about how I became a technical writer and what has contributed to my success. Josh is putting together technical writing resources and creating a community of writers. He's a powerhouse entrepreneur and innovator and I couldn't be more honored to give my thoughts. Subscribe to his Technical … Continue reading Talking with Josh Fechter about technical writing
Surfing is a struggle, and that’s why it’s good for your career
When you think of a surfer, who comes to mind? I'd imagine it's probably a specimen like Jeff Spicoli from the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The long-haired, semi-intelligible, perma-blazed brainiac played by Sean Penn has his true to life counter parts, no doubt. Here's the weird thing, those guys are almost never good … Continue reading Surfing is a struggle, and that’s why it’s good for your career
Splitting table entries in DITA
You can split entries in DITA to create entry 1A and 1B to your entry 1. You can create rows (red below) and columns (blue below), or combine both (blue below). You can join them again if you're not satisfied. Right-click in the table and select Split or Join.
Create a GIF with SnagIt 2019
GIFs make documentation more engaging. While not requiring the intensive production of videos, GIFs provide another way for you to display short, simple tasks to aid users in task topics, show UI functionality, and demo features. The following task instructs you how to create a GIF in SnagIt 2019. You can access SnagIt from two … Continue reading Create a GIF with SnagIt 2019
Add an Example Element for a Use Case Example in DITA
Scenario: The developer was seeking documentation to refer users to to answer setup questions for the feature. The setup of the feature, I found, was really complicated. The user needed to select the right combination of choices to properly configure it. The developer suggested the idea of an example setup, where the options are given … Continue reading Add an Example Element for a Use Case Example in DITA
Double Yew! 