#22455
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
#22432
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
#31739
How Can I Become a Successful Technical Writer? 
The best thing you can do to develop your skills and ability with technical writing is to actually do some technical writing. Find an open source project, such as WordPress.org or Pligg, and write some documentation for it. Most open source projects have poor documentation, so they provide excellent opportunities.
Johnson, Tom H. I'd Rather Be Writing (2008). Articles>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#31237
How Employee Publications Missed a Chance to Matter
About 20 years ago, employee publication editors everywhere were under assault from consultants like me who were carping about our colleagues' reluctance to move beyond reporting on employee outings, hobbies and similar fluff. On, we urged, to the serious business of directly helping our organizations win!
Nelson, Barry. Communication World Bulletin (2007). Articles>Writing>Workplace>Newsletters
#31115
How Important is the Writing Part of Technical Writing?
Writing documentation isn't merely the act of pounding out dry prose. There is some creativity involved which comes from how you present the information, both textually and visually. The writing, though, needs to be easy to read, complete, concise, and to the point.
DMN Communications (2007). Articles>TC>Writing>Technical Writing
#21267
How In-Process Measures Can Help You Manage Quality 
Some technical communicators see productivity and quality measurements as threatening when these measurements are used as an evaluation of the person, not the process or the product. Communicators can also be frustrated by the time and effort it takes to collect quality measurements with no visible result or improvement of their own work. This paper discusses how managers of technical communicators can develop and implement a system of in-process measurements to help technical communicators manage the process and improve their own final documentation before it is shipped to the customer, without being threatened by the measurement system.
Fisher, Lori H. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Writing>Assessment>Technical Writing
#21563
How the Web Is Changing the Role of the Service Course 
The service course is undergoing another change in its role in the Technical Communication program. Over the years, the service course has evolved from a way of providing students with mastery of genre and style to a way of introducing students to their role as communicators in the rhetorical situation. The Web drives the new role evolving out of this solid past. The service course now provides students with a basis for independent creation. Programs must fill four key needs for students entering the job market. Students must: learn to learn; master the processes involved in creating information; learn applications quickly and graduate having mastered several; and understand information design.
Riordan, Dan. CPTSC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
#31236
How to Be an In-House Newshound
The only thing harder than having too much news for your in-house newsletter is having too little. The problem is that great stories seldom fall into your lap. Most of the time, you have to go out and dig for them. Here are a few tried and tested suggestions to help you identify great story ideas within your organization.
Dower, Sophia. Communication World Bulletin (2007). Articles>Writing>Newsletters
#24794
How to Be Persuasive in Writing
The persuasive theories of Stephen Toulmin and Carl Rogers can be effective in applications to writing on the job. Toulmin’s strategies lead writers to specify the exact claim they are making, to give evidence to support the claim, and to refute the arguments likely to be made against the claim. Roger’s strategies can be used to identify the viewpoint of the audience, grant the points in the audience’s position which the writer agrees with, and then attempt to show how the audience’s position will actually be improved if the writer’s claim or proposal is accepted.
Connors, Patricia E. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Rhetoric>Writing
#20794
How to Control Interviews Even When Outranked
Expect anyone you're interviewing to try to control the interview, says writer/trainer Thomas Hunter. Anticipate special difficulties if that person outranks you. You must make on-the-spot judgments during every interview, but Hunter suggests steps to take beforehand, alternative approaches to consider during interviews and techniques to use after unsatisfactory ones.
#19673
Editing involves more than just formatting and inserting page numbers. You need to ask, 'How can I improve the communication?'
Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2003). Articles>Editing>Writing>Technical Writing
#30829
How to Entertain Technical Writers
I've often wondered what it would be like to throw a party and invite only technical writers. While we are a diverse bunch, we definitely share some common interests, pet peeves, etc. If you ever happen to arrange such a gathering, here are a few ideas for keeping your guests entertained.
Helpscribe (2008). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>Collaboration
#23344
How To Find a Career Adviser for Your Undergraduate Majors
If your faculty thinks it is not the place of a liberal arts school to get involved in anything 'vocational,' not the role of an English department to counsel students about job seeking, and not the job of a faculty member to learn about career planning, then the student probably cannot get an answer to the question. Chances are you and your department do not really comprehend the significant practical impact of this discipline even though it is your life's work.
Turk, Leonard. ADE Bulletin (1982). Articles>Education>Writing>Technical Writing
#13625
How to Keep the Content Coming: Five Tips
Maintaining a steady flow of high-quality content can be a major challenge for any online venue. Shifting priorities, unexpected crises, ebbing resources, and just plain burnout can (and probably will) take its toll on your content plans. These tips can help you prevent or compensate for problems with your supply of fresh online content.
Gahran, Amy. Contentious (2002). Articles>Content Management>Writing
#25950
How to Ruin a Writing Project in 10 Easy Steps
Does your job involve writing? Here's a surefire recipe for bringing on writer's block and making the whole process seem so onerous that you'll vow never to put pen to paper again.
Bennaco (2004). Articles>Project Management>Writing
#24469
How to Teach Paragraph Fluency: Strategies and Exercises
Fluent paragraph paradigms adaptable to technical writing applications would assist both composition and comprehensibility. To address this objective, participants will select from paragraphs that do or do not exemplify the characteristics of such paradigms. After tallying the vote, discussing major and minor viewpoints, and presenting underlying concepts for each paragraph paradigm, the consensus panel strategy will also be applied to sentences that do or do not illustrate flaws characteristic of each paradigm. The overall objective is to raise the consciousness of participants to the superiority of fluent paragraphs and to the consensus panel strategy for their instruction.
Schneir, Michael. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Writing
#20223
Great writing can’t be taught, but bad writing can be avoided. Mahoney shares tips that may enhance the writing on your personal site.
Mahoney, Dennis A. List Apart, A (2002). Articles>Web Design>Writing>Blogging
#26023
How to Write a Competitive Analysis
There are few documents that get the attention of product planners and marketers the way that a competitive analysis does. A good competitive analysis is a scouting report of the actual market terrain that your company must navigate in order to be successful. And there is no person better equipped to write one than a market-savvy technical writer.
Knowles, Michael. Writing World (2001). Articles>Writing
#19940
Newsletters are one of the least expensive -- and most effective -- public relations tools that exist for drawing attention to a business or Web site. By sending out a quality newsletter on a regular basis, you can keep clients, potential clients, the media, and other important sources updated about your business. Frequency of mailing builds familiarity, and familiarity inspires return visits. Plus, the effort of creating a newsletter itself speaks volumes about your commitment to the subject. It also positions you as an expert and a valuable resource.
Writing That Sells. Articles>Document Design>Journalism>Writing
#21429
How to Write a Report Without Getting Lynched
You put forth your best effort to explain to the stupid sods exactly how and where they screwed up, then they have the temerity to not appreciate your fine efforts. Here's how to write a report that will cause change, instead of uproar.
Tognazzini, Bruce. Nielsen Norman Group (2001). Articles>Usability>Reports>Technical Writing
#26130
How to Write a Summary, and Why
The first text in most web and intranet pages should be a summary of 1-2 sentences. That's a good rule of thumb. The starter-summary has several important functions.
McAlpine, Rachel. Quality Web Content (2005). Articles>Web Design>Writing
#26024
A white paper in the high-tech industry is a technical document that describes how a technology or product solves a particular problem. It's a marketing document and a technical document, yet it doesn't go too far in either direction. A good white paper is informative and is designed to show off the advantages of a product or technology.
Knowles, Michael. Writing World (2001). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing
#13576
A white paper in the high-tech industry is a technical document that describes how a technology or product solves a particular problem. It's a marketing document and a technical document, yet it doesn't go too far in either direction. A good white paper is informative and is designed to show off the advantages of a product or technology.
Knowles, Michael. Write Thinking (2001). Articles>Writing
#21981
A well-designed user guide contains a copyright page, which provides copyright information for your company's products as well as for any third-party products mentioned in your document.
Amott, Lyndsey. Docsymmetry (2004). Articles>Intellectual Property>Copyright>Technical Writing
#10559
How to Write Effective Mailing List Email
With every passing day, increasing numbers of people are becoming web designers. One of the main forums for communication among web designers, both beginners and experts alike, is the mailing list. Most mailing lists generate a substantial stream of useful, information-laden email, and the good ones enjoy a healthy gift economy. I'm subscribed to a small handful of web-related discussion lists, and the busier ones average 20-40 messages per day. My favorite list contains more useful information in a month's worth of postings than any best selling web design book. Even when I'm not asking or answering a question, I can follow fascinating threads, picking up useful tidbits, and build rich archives of searchable information. When I ask a question, no less than two or three expert answers will appear within a few hours. The people that read lists are often successful designers and busy experts in our field. Yet even the best lists have their share of problems. I could pontificate all day on the nature of interpe
Haughey, Matthew. Digital Web Magazine (1999). Articles>Writing>Online
