Yesterday and Today: Remembering the Old Waxing Layout Process

I think of those earlier processes and how they assist my work. Currently, I have a hand-created layout in my portfolio to teach that I understand the printing process from a historical point of view. I am aware of the tight deadlines, as the printer has a lot to do to get my final product accomplished. And worse comes to worse, if my layout program fails, I know how to create a dummy page by hand.

Cobb, Monique. Carolina Communique (2008). Articles>Document Design>History

Communicating Your Value as a Technical Communicator

A resume tells a prospective employer what you have done and how your experience makes you the best candidate for an open position. A marketing plan, on the other hand, guides you in selecting the best position for your skills and experience. A resume explains what you did – a marketing plan captures what you want. You want to precisely define the target market for your job search so that you do not waste time – yours or your interviewer’s.

Harvey, Michael. Carolina Communique (2008). Careers>Resumes

Obsessed with Possessives

We see it everywhere: our schools, our places of business, even in notes stuck on our refrigerator. Yes, my friends, I’m talking about apostrophe abuse. The Obama administration, faced with two wars and an economy teetering on the edge of disaster, is unlikely to make this a priority. So it’s our duty as professional communicators to stamp it out.

Wenger, Andrea. Carolina Communique (2009). Articles>Communication>Diction>Grammar

Obsessed with Possessives

We see it everywhere: our schools, our places of business, even in notes stuck on our refrigerator. Yes, my friends, I’m talking about apostrophe abuse. The Obama administration, faced with two wars and an economy teetering on the edge of disaster, is unlikely to make this a priority. So it’s our duty as professional communicators to stamp it out.

Wenger, Andrea. Carolina Communique (2009). Articles>Writing>Grammar

Enhancing Your Written Works by Producing Effective Charts

Producing effective charts is essential to any document that conveys technical, scientific, or financial data. Here are four suggestions to ensure that your charts are effective and enhance rather than detract from your document.

Davidson, Jeff. Carolina Communique (2009). Articles>Document Design>Visual Rhetoric>Charts and Graphs

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

Breaking into Freelance Writing

This article offers tips on breaking into the field of freelance writing—some from Alice Osborn herself, some from two of the books she recommends: "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" by Robert W. Bly; and "The Renegade Writer" by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell.

Wenger, Andrea. Carolina Communique (2009). Careers>Freelance>Writing>Technical Writing

A Brief Orientation to E-Learning

What is E-learning? E-learning is a general term that refers to education delivered using various forms of digital media such as the internet, video conferencing, audio, animation, and virtual environments. A course delivered using these tools, combined with face-to-face learning from an instructor, is referred to as blended learning.

Hall, Julia. Carolina Communiqué (2009). Articles>Education>Online

Best Practices for Online Review

Marking up paper is still the most common way to review documents, but online review is critical if you work as part of a distributed team. There are advantages to online review even if you sit only a cubicle away from your reviewer. Here are few tips for making your online reviews go smoothly.

Smith, Terry. Carolina Communiqué (2009). Articles>Editing>Online>Collaboration

Review: The Global English Style Guide

A review of "The Global English Style Guide: Writing Clear, Translatable Documentation for a Global Market" by John R. Kohl.

Wenger, Andrea. Carolina Communiqué (2009). Articles>Reviews>Style Guides

Review: Web Application Design Patterns

A review of "Web Application Design Patterns" by Pawan Vora.

Dick, David J. Carolina Communiqué (2009). Articles>Reviews>Web Design

Considering Culture-Bound Terminology

It is clear that the term blacklist, and the newer term whitelist, and yes, graylist, are not racist in origin. Nor are they used today with any connotation about race. But these terms are culture-bound and might present globalization issues. That is, the colors black and white are not globally perceived as negative and positive, respectively. In some cultures, the meaning is the opposite.

Kocher, Sue. Carolina Communique (2009). Articles>Language>Diction>Professionalism

Dear Viv: Switching Careers

I worked as a technical writer many years ago and then quit to take care of my kids. Now I'd like to get back into the field. How do I get my foot in the door when all employers require experience?

Carolina Communique (2009). Careers>Writing>Advice>Technical Writing