Review: Are Weblogs Changing Our Culture?

As modern as they are in their instantaneity, blogs, like e-mail, seem winningly old-fashioned to me.

Sullivan, Andrew and Kurt Andersen. Slate (2002). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Blogging

Review: The Elements of Technical Writing  

The elements of technical writing includes a basic definition of technical writing--'writing about subjects in technical disciplines'--as well as a high-level outline of the book. Few prefaces contain as thorough a summary of changes as Pearsall offers. The summary of changes in this second edition acknowledges the necessity for current information in the changing technical writing arena, listing several specific changes from the first edition.

Williams, Jocelyn Crump. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: Handbook of Technical Writing  

As with previous editions, the editors have done a marvelous job. This is the type of book that every writer should have. As I stated before, it is not a how-to-write book, but more of a 'tools for writing' book. I find myself referring to it often when I'm thinking of how to pronounce a specific word or how to go about putting together a proposal, abstract or white paper, or even how to interview an engineer or programmer for information about a product I'm documenting.

Hawley, Todd. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: Hot Text: Web Writing That Works

This book will help you improve any type of written communication, and it's a fun read to boot. The authors know what they're talking about and have the experience to back up their words. Both have spent many years writing for Web audiences. In addition to Web writing, their combined relevant experience includes journalism, technical communication, art, TV and radio, and teaching.

Frick, Geri. TECHWR-L (2004). Articles>Reviews>Web Design>Writing

Review: Hot Text: Web Writing That Works  

When it comes to mentors in technical communication, Jonathan Price is as good as they get. If he were a novelist, I might describe his stuff with words like salty, earthy, and gut-level. What he provides is different from cold theory, and certainly not the same as statistics. It's street-smart. When Price talks, you know he's been there and done that, and you've got him sitting beside you as you work, helping you through the pitfalls, urging you on.

Sullivan, Bill. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>Web Design>Writing

Review: Law and Internet Cultures

Kathy Bowrey's Law and Internet Cultures critically deconstructs the law in the context of legal culture, and especially looks at how U.S. law, practice, and culture has influenced technology law. Bowrey, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales, writes as an "Australian author" but her analysis clearly contains a global perspective as she looks to global structures and laws in other countries such as the United States. The book's analysis draws upon an incredibly broad range of literature including but not limited to traditional "literature" (e.g., Orwell's 1984), economic analysis, communications theory, and cultural studies. She stretches her analysis, connecting the heretofore disconnected (like Foucault, Coombe, Mandeville's travels, Napster, Grokster, etc.) and makes these horizontal connections in the context of discussions of verticality--like globalization, international standards, international patent norms, and global governance. The reading will be difficult for folks without a solid background in information technologies and law (and is just plain difficult for reasons mentioned below), but Bowrey does provide at least brief definitions and description of acronyms where need be. She tends to begin chapters with details and then brings things together at chapter's end--but this strategy seems to work for the complex subject matter. This is a great book for reading out of order or skipping to particularly relevant sections. Each section of each chapter can hold together on its own. Numerous diagrams and illustrations add to the flavor of this unique and much-needed book.

Rife, Martine Courant. H-Net (2006). Articles>Reviews>Legal>Technical Writing

Review: Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications

Microsoft is one of the largest software companies in the world. Thus, with their rich experience in documentation it is only natural that they share it with the rest of the IT industry. The Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications, Third Edition (MSTP) is the latest step in this direction and takes care of latest technologies and technical terms.

Sharma, Sangeet. Indus (2005). Articles>Reviews>Style Guides>Technical Writing

Review: Reporting Technical Information  

When I first picked up Reporting Technical Information, I thought from the title it was going to be a primer on writing technical reports. Instead, this book turned out to be a basic, though somewhat better than average, textbook on technical writing.

Coleman, Colleen. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>Reviews>Reports>Technical Writing

Review: Submit Now: Designing Persuasive Web Sites  

The group that would probably benefit most from reading Submit now is marketers, particularly entry-level marketing managers or marketing students. The book does a fine job of connecting basic concepts of persuasion to designing Web sites that will motivate the four different types of Internet shoppers discussed earlier. I could, however, foresee how experienced marketers could find the information contained in this book too basic for their needs.

Coleman, Colleen. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Marketing

Review: Technical Communication  

Rebecca E. Burnett covers all the topics you'd expect in an introductory textbook for technical communicators. And she covers them thoroughly.

Campbell, Alexa. Technical Communication Online (2003). Articles>Reviews>Textbooks>Technical Writing

Review: Technical Style: Technical Writing in a Digital Age  

Haile argues that 'books on technical writing often ignore the problems writers face in presenting equations and the problems readers face in decoding them.' That's often true. And, just as Edward Tufte's books show a passion for truth in statistical charts, Haile's analyses and prescriptions demonstrate how much he cares about clearing away the clutter that stands between readers and the underlying science.

Price, Jonathan R. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: Technical Writing for Dummies  

If you're a professional technical communicator who is interested in gleaning a few tidbits of knowledge for yourself, while simultaneously preparing witty answers to the questions asked of you by those who don't know anything about the things you do, you might want to add a yellow or orange book to your bookshelf. You wouldn't be completely dumb or idiotic if you did.

Ecker, Pamela S. Technical Communication Online (2002). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: Write Your Way to Riches: How to Make Money as a Technical Writer

Write Your Way to Riches gives you comprehensive, step-by-step details on how to make money as a technical writer. Technical writing is one of the highest paid writing professions, and it's easy to get into.

Gregg, Joseph. Writers Weekly (2001). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: Writer's Market FAQs: Fast Answers about Getting Published and the Business of Writing  

Rubie uses a question-and-answer format for his book, which makes the book difficult to sit and read cover to cover but works well when one uses it for reference.

Kadilak, Denise. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Publishing>Writing

Review: The Writing System: A Step-by-Step Guide for Business and Technical Writers  

I would recommend this book to subject matter experts who lack writing expertise. The exercises and examples are especially beneficial to lone writers who often do not have an expert writer nearby to review their writing.

Jones, Irene. Technical Communication Online (2004). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Technical Writing

Review: Why Manuals Fail

A very brief review of the first edition of Edmond H. Weiss’s How to Write a Usable User Manual.

West, Mike. MBWest.com (2006). Articles>Reviews>Documentation>Technical Writing

Review: Clear, Brief and Bold: Will Strunk’s Legacy

A masterpiece of concision so tightly written that you almost don't need to read past the table of contents.

West, Mike. MBWest.com (2004). Articles>Reviews>Writing>Minimalism

Review: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer

Many writers in the Triangle area dream of being their own boss, typing on a laptop by a pool on a warm day or working cozily on a couch in front of the fire when the weather is frightful. Alice Osborn, an accomplished freelance writer, wanted to dispel the myths of this perceived easy lifestyle. Alice spoke to over 50 people at February’s chapter meeting. She provided many good tips on how to get and keep jobs as a freelancer in this competitive market. For those who did not attend, her presentation is summarized below.

Eftekhar, Christina. Carolina Communique (2009). Articles>Reviews>Freelance>Writing

Review: Improving Individual and Corporate Performance

Managing a team (of writers) somehow is supposed to come naturally to those it is thrust upon. And, of course, it almost never does. Richard Hamilton has succeeded in coming up with a book that - quite effectively, and covering a wide range of topics - answers this ubiquitous question. In a very real sense, Richard’s book is the voice of experience and wisdom that should have been made available when you first got the promotion.

Hamer, Emma C. Hamer Associates (2009). Articles>Reviews>Management>Writing