Exploring the World of User-Centered Design  

Gribbons discusses trends in the marketplace that challenge the traditional view of technical communication and offer valuable opportunities for technical communicators in user-centered design.

Gribbons, William M. Intercom (2002). Articles>User Centered Design

eXtreme Documentation  

A revolution is under way in software development, revolving around agile methodologies that allow more room for design changes based on input from customers during development. One popular agile methodology is eXtreme Programming (XP).

Nuckols, Carl E. Intercom (2003). Articles>Documentation>Agile>Extreme Documentation

FAQs About Your First CBT  

A comprehensive overview of computer-based training for technical communicators new to the subject.

Wokosin, Linda. Intercom (2004). Articles>Education>Instructional Design>Online

Faster, Better, and Cheaper: The Software Development Life Cycle  

Block shows how a technical writer's involvement in each stage of software development can lead to higher quality software products.

Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Design>User Centered Design>Software

The Fault of Vacuity  

I labeled wordiness the most obvious fault in technical writing. In retrospect, I think I was wrong. I believe the greatest fault our writing can have is vacuity, or lack of substance. We too often write words that say nothing.

Bush, Donald W. Intercom (2004). Articles>Editing

A Field Guide to Technical SMEs  

Although not rare birds in urban high-tech environments, technical subject matter experts (SMEs) are a fascinating species to observe—and a challenging breed for corporate communicators to manage. This tongue-in-cheek field guide identifies four common sub-species, and explains how to spot each by its distinctive markings and how to cope with its behaviors for companionable nesting.

Lange, Penny L. Intercom (2003). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing>SMEs

File-Exchange and Workflow Issues  

Suggests ways that editors can organize multiple versions of articles and avoid the pitfalls of transferring electronic files over the Internet.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2000). Articles>Editing>Online

Finding Proposal Money for Nonprofits  

Offers tips on how nonprofit organizations can search for and attain funding.

Munger, Roger H. Intercom (2001). Careers>Business Communication>Proposals

Finding That First Job  

Offers suggestions on finding work in technical communication for recent college graduates, professionals in other fields, and those who want to add documentation duties to their current jobs.

Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Careers>Interviewing>TC

Finding What You Want on the Web  

Fugate reviews a number of Web sites, search engines, and databases that self-employed technical communicators could use to track down information.

Fugate, Alice E. Intercom (2002). Articles>TC>Online

Finding Work in Tough Times  

It's not easy to find rewarding work. Hart describes three steps you can take to help the process go more smoothly when searching for that new job.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2006). Careers>TC

Fire Up Your Frozen Job Search  

Graden analyzes the reasons why job searches sometimes stall and suggests how technical communicators looking for employment can regain momentum.

Graden, Katherine E. Intercom (2002). Careers>Unemployment

A Firm Foundation  

This article presents a brief history of the Association of Technical Writers and Editors, one of STC's parent organizations.

Rutkowski, Ed. Intercom (2001). Articles>History>TC

Flexing Your Marketing Muscles: Tactics for the Reluctant Marketer  

I don’t like to market myself. Sometimes I think, 'Heck, I’m good at what I do. I've been doing this for thirty years. Why don’t people come to me?' Then I get over it, consult my marketing plan, and get on with it. (See my previous column, 'Building a Marketing Plan,' in the May 2004 issue of Intercom.) I don't like to market my services, but I like to have marketedmy services. And I keep one thought foremost in the process: 'Marketing is like swimming: If you stop, you sink!'

Frick, Elizabeth G. 'Bette'. Intercom (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Marketing

Following the Doctor's Orders  

In this ethics case, O'Neill presents a fictional scenario in which a technical communicator is asked to modify copyrighted materials from a training program. Readers are asked to forward their opinions concerning the scenario to be published in a later issue of Intercom.

O'Neill, Michael T. Intercom (2000). Articles>Workplace>Ethics

Four Tips for Professional Development  

Discusses how technical communicators can keep themselves marketable at a time when technologies and work environments are rapidly changing.

Dimick, Sharlyn A. Intercom (2002). Careers>Education>Continuing

Free or Open-Source Tools for Technical Communicators, Part 1: The Software  

This article takes a look at some of the most successful free and open-source products available for technical communicators and their clients.

Curley, Charles. Intercom (2006). Articles>TC>Software>Open Source

From Classroom to Cubicle  

Identifies helpful courses and activities that can prepare students and new technical communicators for their duties in the workplace.

Johnson, Felicia R. Intercom (2002). Careers>Education>TC>Workplace

From Not Working to NETWorking  

Networking—whether done formally or informally, alone or as part of a group—can give you a competitive edge in getting (and keeping!) business coming to you as a contractor or independent technical communicator.

Keefer, Christine A. Intercom (2004). Careers>Freelance>Collaboration

From Software Documentation to E-learning: Making a Switch  

Interested in making the transition from software documentation to e-learning? Read about some steps that will help you ease the switch and make the most of your new opportunity.

Malhotra, Dhupinder K. Intercom (2006). Articles>Documentation>Instructional Design

From Uncredible to Incredible: Tips for Speakers  

Suggests ways that speakers can increase their credibility with their audience.

Fritze, Shelley and Maureen V. McIntyre. Intercom (2004). Articles>Presentations>Rhetoric

Future Travels of the InfoWrangler

Some of the questions most commonly asked by professionals in a given field are 'where is the field headed?' and 'how will that affect me?' In this article, I give one person's view of where the fields of technical communication, training, and marketing communications are headed and how that might affect people working in those fields.

Carliner, Saul. Intercom (1998). Careers>Information Design

Gentle Feedback That Encourages Learning  

Offers suggestions on how teachers of technical communication and reviewers of coworkers' documents can offer constructive criticism of others' writing.

Doumont, Jean-Luc. Intercom (2002). Articles>Editing

Geoffrey Chaucer: Medieval Technical Communicator  

Chaucer's A Treatise on the Astrolabe, published in 1391, may be the first technical manual in the English language.

Intercom (2004). Articles>History

Geographic Information Systems  

Explains GIS (geographic information systems), which capture and display geographically referenced information) and suggests ways that technical communicators can become more involved with this technology.

Pettit Jones, Colleen. Intercom (2003). Articles>Information Design>Technical Illustration>Cartography