Editing Tests for Writers  

Times are hard, and many former writers are pounding the dirt looking for work. Some who have extensive experience with peer review or revising documents are expanding their job searches to include careers as editors. However, new editors often face a barrier to entering the profession: the editing test. Rather than taking a chance on unproven candidates, publishers and other clients typically ask would-be editors to review short documents that test three main aspects of an editor’s skills.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2003). Articles>Editing>Writing

Editing to Help Students' Backs  

Perhaps the worst way to condense a book is by using smaller or condensed type; you want to be especially careful that all fonts are legible. Neither should you save space by tossing out pictures or diagrams that clarify subjects. Some engineers cram paragraphs together, but paragraphs are valuable structural devices that can make subjects more clear. So the clue to successful condensation of text is not mechanical miniaturization but literary efficiency.

Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2003). Articles>Education>Writing>Minimalism

Editing Translated HTML Files  

Follow this advice for getting rid of the clutter and strange characters in your translated HTML files.

Johnston, Becky. Intercom (2004). Articles>Web Design>HTML

Editing Web Pages  

Investigates some of the specific issues involved in editing Web sites, an increasingly common task for us wage slaves and an enormous opportunity for freelancers.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2003). Design>Web Design>Editing

Editing Web Pages: A Second Look  

How to edit Web pages--with revision tracking--using Microsoft Word.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2004). Articles>Editing>Web Design>Writing

Editing with Style (Sheets)  

Offers editors tips on creating and using style sheets.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2002). Design>Information Design>Style Sheets

Effective Interviewing: Get the Story  

In this article, Geoffrey Hart offers the following tips on how to interview a subject matter expert (SME) for reliable, comprehensive, timely information:

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2000). Articles>Interviewing>Collaboration

Effective Outlining: Designing Workable Blueprints for Writing  

Save time and increase your credibility by creating an effective outline. Hart's article discusses three important steps in designing an outline.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2006). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing

Elegant Documentation  

Blank discusses the benefits of using consistent styles in documentation.

Blank, William. Intercom (2001). Articles>Documentation>Style Guides

Eleven Commandments for Business Meeting Etiquette  

Offers some rules on business meeting etiquette.

Smith, Gary M. Intercom (2000). Careers>Workplace>Etiquette

Eleven Commandments for Conducting a Business Meeting  

In response to Gary M. Smith's article 'Eleven Commandments for Business Meeting Etiquette,' which focuses on the conduct of those attending meetings, Sullivan presents eleven rules for the organizers and speakers of meetings.

Sullivan, Christine A. Intercom (2000). Articles>Management>Collaboration

Emerging Technologies: Observations of a SIG Manager  

Charles, the manager of STC's Emerging Technologies special interest group, predicts that refinement and consolidation of existing technologies will be a major trend in the technical communication industry in 2004. 'With products becoming increasingly sophisticated and complicated,' Charles writes, 'the demand for supporting documentation will grow.'

Charles, Dan. Intercom (2004). Careers>TC

Employment Abroad: The View from Holland  

On the basis of my experience moving from the Boston, Massachusetts, area to the Netherlands three years ago, I’d definitely encourage you to consider employment here, or any other place that truly beckons you.

Peltz, Donna. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Regional>Netherlands

Employment Trends for 2003  

Carliner predicts that 2003 will again be a difficult year for employment in technical communication, but also identifies possibilities for increased employment of technical communicators in several industries.

Carliner, Saul. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC

Employment Trends: Industries and Qualities  

This article provides supplemental information to STC's 2004 Salary Survey.

Intercom (2004). Careers>Salaries

Enhancing Documentation with Video  

Presents guidelines for developing videos from technical material and discusses the process of video production.

Steiner, Leonard T. Intercom (2004). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Video

Entrepreneurs and the 'F' Word    

Since most employees-turned-entrepreneurs have little formal training in finance, they may be less than confident about how to ensure that their finances are in order. Frick shares some of her experiences in learning how to manage her finances for her business.

Frick, Elizabeth G. 'Bette'. Intercom (2007). Careers>Management>Financial

Environmental Problem-Solving in Communication Courses  

Describes how teachers of communication courses can use local environmental controversies to stimulate creative thinking and illustrate proper research methods.

Griggs, Karen. Intercom (2001). Articles>Education>Environmental

Errors and Omissions Insurance: Assuming the Risk of Professional Liability  

Discusses the costs and benefits of errors and omissions insurance, a type of coverage normally obtained by independent technical communicators and consultants.

Juillet, Christopher. Intercom (2004). Careers>TC>Consulting

Essentials of Successful Cooperation  

Brys discusses ways that technical communicators can lay foundations for good working relationships with subject matter experts.

Brys, Catherine M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Workplace>Collaboration>SMEs

Estimating Documentation Projects  

Outlines a system for estimating the costs, in time and money, of a documentation project.

Pandit, Makarand M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Documentation

Estimating Online Projects  

Describes a detailed process for estimating the time and costs of online communication projects.

Drakeley, Caroline A. Intercom (2003). Careers>Web Design>Consulting

An Ethical Gamble  

Are the ethical issues affected by a vendor's status as an offshore operation? By the prospect of Internet gambling becoming illegal in the U.S. (bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives)? By the presumption of shady morals in the gambling industry? Should one's choices be affected by his/her rocky employment history?

Bryan, John G. Intercom (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Ethics

Evaluating Your Web Site  

Assesses three methods of evaluating Web sites: guest books, hit counters, and log analyzers.

Archee, Raymond K. Intercom (2001). Design>Web Design>Assessment

Evolution of a Disclaimer  

What if a disclaimer seems to be more than just a disclaimer? Readers are invited to consider the fictitious case presented and to share their thoughts for publication in an upcoming issue of Intercom.

Bryan, John G. Intercom (2006). Articles>TC>Ethics>Case Studies