Write Now ... in the world of Technical Communication

These are a few of My Favorite Blogs (and Newsletters and Magazines…)

2010-01-27T15:30:28.387-07:00

Blogs… just about everyone’s got at least one these days. Some people I know subscribe to 20 or more. Some people say they don’t have time to read anything else besides the 100+ emails they get a day.

I have to admit – I was a late adopter of blogs, both reading and creating my own. While time is (always) a limiting factor, recently I’ve found some great tips, tricks and information from these blogs, newsletters, and publications.

The Rapid E-Learning Blog

I was hesitant about subscribing to this blog as I was worried it would be too product focused. (It’s produced by Articulate.) Instead, this blog focuses on creating rapid e-learning (hence the title) no matter what platform you use. The articles are well written and have some great tips.

Overall, I really like that this blog encourages instructional designers to reach out to others, even those using different platforms. They’ve had some great posts on fonts, PowerPoint Presentations, and using audio in courses, among other things. If you’re an instructional designer and are only looking for one new blog to subscribe to, this one is at the top of my list.

TechSmith Newsletter

Ok, so this isn’t actually a blog, but I’m recommending it anyway. It’s especially useful for anyone who uses TechSmith products like Snagit or Camtasia Studio. I’ve learned some great tips about these products (like their latest article on how to create great images). Plus, this newsletter allows you to customize the type of content you receive. Only want content on Snagit or Camtasia, just update your preferences.

Chief Learning Officer Magazine

This is a great magazine and website for anyone who’s interested in advancing their career within learning and development. Executives and upper management are the target audience for this publication, but I think the topics discussed here are valuable for anyone who is interested in the issues that L&D departments face.

I like that CLO articles gives me a 10,000 foot view of the learning and development. I often reference articles and tidbits I read in CLO when I talk with clients about developing training programs. CLO is talking about the big issues on learning executives’ minds and profiles Fortune 500 companies that are successfully navigating through the myriad of issues that so many L&D organizations face.

Right now these are a few of my favorites. If you have others, post a comment! I’m always looking for new reading material.

MS Word – Suppressing the “Space Before” on a Page Break

2010-01-13T09:03:21.478-07:00

I’m a big fan of using styles when I author documents in MS Word. While I’ve generally found Styles to be the easiest way for me to produce consistent formats, I’ve always been frustrated with the non-native functionality of suppressing the “space before” settings when I insert a page break. Thus far, I’ve worked around this issue by using manual spaces (horrible, I know!).

Today, however, I decided I was tired workarounds. There must be a better way! A quick Google search led me to Allen Wyatt’s Word Tips. The article provided background about this issue as well as the location where you can adjust this setting (in Word 2003): Tools à Options à Compatibility Tab à “Suppress Space Before after a hard page or column break.”

Check the box next to the item then click OK.

Ta-da! Now when you insert a page break, the space before is suppressed. This ensures the first line on each page is in the same spot, no matter what type of style it is. (Typically my space before setting varies between headings and body styles. Previously, this resulted in varying alignments at the top of the page if I inserted a page break.)

A couple things to note:

Allen Wyatt’s article stated that checking this box didn’t fix the problem. He provides some good recommendations for what to do if this doesn’t work for you. Possibly an update to Word between the time he wrote his article and now fixed this functionality so it works as we expect.
For my environment, I’ve have to specifically set this property for each Word instance I open. It doesn’t seem to carryover to all new instances of Word.
For Word 2007, the Options window is access through the Office button.

Why I Love Being a Tech Writer

2009-09-23T10:50:46.398-07:00

I often feel like I’m lucky for choosing a career that I (90% of the time) enjoy. When you’re young, in college and trying to figure out what you “want to be when you grow up,” often the choices are overwhelming. Maybe that’s why I took the long route (8 years) to complete my degree. I dropped out then went back part-time while working full-time in an effort to figure out what I wanted to do. It worked and (luckily) I was already on the right path with my current major (English).

I still feel like I got lucky – I choose a career that I’m genuinely passionate about. Some days you’re excited about getting that next project done or relieved that you’ve finally figured out to present a difficult concept. Other days, work is, well, work. You go. You write. You go home and do something more fun. (Writing is not always fun!)

This morning, I wasn’t sure what type of day it would be until about half way through my morning document development meeting. As I’m scribbling away on my note pad, trying to write down everything the developer was saying I was struck by one of those “This is why I love my job!” moments. Honestly, at this point in the meeting, I really had no idea how I was going to put all the information together. I was still struggling with understanding the concept. It was all slightly overwhelming.

Yet, I was loving it! I had a new, challenging puzzle to solve. (I’m fascinated with understanding how things work. One of my favorite TV shows is Modern Marvels on the History Channel because they take you behind the scenes and show you how things work.) As the development team talked through the concepts, drew and re-drew diagrams on the board, I frantically copied everything to my notes as well as chimed in to ask a few questions.

I have to admit as I walked out of the meeting I was still feeling overwhelmed. I had a basic understanding of the overall process and about six pages of notes about how all the pieces and parts fit together, but there were still a lot of loose ends and questions. Walking down the stairs back to my work area, I began thinking about how to present it. This project would be a fantastic candidate for a more interactive, online document where I could show the progression between each stage. Unfortunately, I’m limited to a static, PDF for the final version. Hmmm, that’s one puzzle to solve.

The second puzzle is how to explain all the information without providing too many details. One of the issues with the current documentation is that it provides too much information. The developers are getting confused; they’re asking too many questions because there is so much background information included. I need to present just enough information to explain the overall process but not too much. That will be a challenge.

Ultimately, I have to understand how everything works so I can present all the pieces and parts together into a coherent, useful document. That’s a challenge I always enjoy (partly because the process of organizing information is a puzzle in itself; it’s also because I love organizing things – just ask my husband out our linen closet.).

Challenges, puzzles and learning how things work – today those are just a few things that I love about being a tech writer.

Have you got a documentation puzzle to solve? Contact me! I’d love to work with you to understand and present the information in a way that’s beneficial to you and your business.

Oh, no! Another Acronym: Understanding IOB

2009-08-06T10:18:06.103-07:00

In general, I’m always thinking about how to “prove” the documentation I craft adds value for the organization. Does it impact the bottom line? Does it reduce support costs? Does it promote employee efficiency? Plus, many clients feel conflicted about documentation, it is needed within their organization, but it’s hard to justify the costs especially in today’s economic climate.

This morning I was reading “Measure Smart: Trade ROI for IOB” published in this month’s edition of CLO magazine. At first, I was simply curious, “What is IOB?” Turns out, IOB, or Impact on Business, is an extension of ROI. Whereas most traditional ROI measurements focus on pure numbers, IOB looks at direct linkages between (in this case) training programs and business programs. Instead of looking at the total number of people trained, IOB focuses on changes in performance metrics after an employee completes a training program.

For example, say a customer service employee takes an interpersonal communication course. After the course, the number of complaints they receive are reduced (and they actually get a few compliments). Using IOB, the training department could say that the communication course improved that employee’s performance. They now have a more direct link between training and performance.

As I was reading, I thought the same concepts could be applied to technical writing. Like training, tech docs seek to convey knowledge to readers with the goal of teaching them something. And technical communicators are interested in those same metrics as training professionals – providing direct linkages between the documentation and business initiatives. “Hmmm, interesting,” I thought as I filed this tidbit of information away (for the next time a client asks about how we can do this).

The article also got me thinking about the future of technical communicators. As our field continues to evolve, we’re seeing a shift from printed documents to dynamic content. I have a feeling that in the coming years, technical communication professionals and training & development professionals will find more and more common ground as they face these similar challenges.

This is an exciting prospect! I think it will open new doors for all of us, especially those (like me) who enjoy elements within each discipline. I also think the increased collaboration between these two professions will enable us to develop more unique and concrete ways to evaluate the effectiveness of the materials we produce. Maybe, just maybe, IOB is the first step toward this future vision.

Help! I'm Lost in this PDF!

2009-07-16T07:03:56.544-07:00

I have a rant. Why do I keep coming across PDF files that are not accessible? How do you expect me to navigate through a 133-page document that does not include a TOC nor does it include PDF bookmarks? I’d really prefer NOT to scroll page by page slowly scanning the headings for the topic I’m interested in. Wouldn’t it be easier (especially since you created headings in the first place) to simply add bookmarks? Please, I’m begging you. I’m cross-eyed from all the scrolling, and I think my mouse is going to go on strike. It likes to click not scroll.

Now, I’m not arguing that all PDFs should be 508 compliant (although this would help). All I’m asking is for a little help. Bookmarking is one of the easiest things you can do to help make your PDF more usable. Especially if you used Word to create the source document, adjusting the conversion settings to bookmark your heading styles is a snap. (What? You didn’t use Styles for your 133-page document! That’s a whole other topic to explore.) For now, let’s pretend that you used Styles and move on….

Before you convert the document though Adobe Acrobat (I’d recommend using the Word plug in to more easily control what’s converted), click the Adobe PDF menu then choose Conversion Settings. Click the Bookmark tab and check (or uncheck) each Style you want converted to a heading then click OK. Poof! You’re ready to create your bookmarked PDF. Let Adobe do its magic and marvel over how all your headings are now conveniently accessible from the bookmarks panel in Adobe Reader. Isn’t that easy?

Now for accessible text. I’ll admit; this can take a little more work. If you’re working in Word, Adobe will automatically convert all hyperlinks in the source document. This means all your references and hyperlinks are automatically converted! It can’t get any easier than this. (You should check them before your conversion to make sure they navigate to the correct spot. Word sometimes anchors these incorrectly.)

If you’re working in Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress, you’ll have to set up each reference link. The nice thing about these programs is that you can set up one “link style” then apply it each time you need that link. This is extremely handy when your document has the same link sprinkled throughout (such as a website or email address). When you’re ready to convert, Adobe Acrobat will automatically convert all your links during the PDF-ing process. Ta-Da!

See how easy it can be? Why not give it a try? Maybe your mouse is more like mine – more clicking, less scrolling, especially when it comes to 133-page PDFs.

Reader-Centric Document Templates

2009-07-15T14:44:24.129-07:00

A client recently asked me how I go about developing documentation templates. What principles guide my designs? Where did I learn how to design templates?

At first I didn’t know how to answer. Document layout techniques come naturally to me. Yes, I’ve had formal training on layout, font and color fundamentals. I do believe those help guide my design decisions; however, I often vary from these guidelines mostly to aid readability. Overall, I have one principle I adhere to when I’m designing templates:

Make sure the reader can use the completed document efficiently and effectively.

How I go about doing that is different for each client because each audience has its own unique characteristics. During your design phase, consider the following elements:

How will the document be accessed (online vs printed vs both)? Choose fonts, colors, and layout characteristics that work best for that medium.
If the document will be printed, is your employer/client doing the printing or the reader? This will affect your use of color, fonts and graphics as well as limit the page size.
What information is the reader looking for on the front page? Some documents may need a formal cover page while others may be more usable without one.
How will readers be referencing information within the document? Use organizational features such as a Table of Contents or Appendix to help readers find what they need quickly.
Finally, what other information must the document include? Incorporate information such as a document ID, publication date, security notice, etc. into the format so that it is not a distraction to the reader.

These are just a few things to take into consideration when designing a new document template. Be open to changes (even if you’ve been using the template awhile) and flexible with your design. Like the rest of the documentation process, templates change as the business and content needs change.

Technical Writing as a Noun or a Verb?

2009-07-08T17:40:41.879-07:00

Technical Writers are not unique in their struggle to prove they “add value” to an organization. Currently, I’m working for a large, global client in their Enterprise Architecture division. While this client’s main business is not software development, because of the scope of their business they have invested significant resources to support the IT infrastructure and software they need to efficiently conduct their business efforts.

My current team’s challenge within Enterprise Architecture is helping the rest of the global organization understand what they do and why they do it. (Sound familiar?) Today, I was reading through some documentation about Enterprise Architecture based on research Gartner conducted. The particular document that caught my attention was one that was trying to provide a definition for Enterprise Architects.

The definition they crafted was well done – logical and comprehensive albeit a little clumsy simply because of the length (but at times you simply can’t avoid that). As I completed the paragraph, I thought they’d covered it all. Then they proceeded to explain that they needed to clarify a few points because of feedback from some of their customers and analysts.

As I read through their clarifications, I kept returning to the first point they stated: Their definition looks at an Enterprise Architect as a verb (i.e., someone who does something) rather than a noun (i.e., someone who produces things). I thought this distinction was significant, both to Enterprise Architects as well as to Technical Communicators.

It’s long been known that Technical Writers are most often viewed as “expenses” rather than “revenue generators.” While, in most cases, this is true, this view by the organization overlooks all the value that (good) Technical Writers bring to the table. Based on the Gartner article, I also have to wonder if some of this image is perpetuated by the fact that as writers, we are very focused on deliverables – concrete documents that prove we’ve been doing the work we say we’ve been doing. But what if there is more to it than that?

The Gartner article states (in the context of Enterprise Archicture):

“Our definition of enterprise architecture has focused on the ‘verb’ – because we feel it is important to emphasize the fact that enterprise architecture is a process. That is important because we find that often, when people focus on the outputs (‘the noun’) rather than the process, they tend to be more concerned about producing a predefined set of deliverables than they are about meeting the strategic imperatives of the enterprise. This single-minded focus on deliverables is a mistake because it can lead to mountains of ‘artifacts’ (requirements, models, principles, guidelines, standards) that are not necessarily connected to the strategic imperatives of the enterprise and are therefore not leveraged across the organization.”

Hmmm, that sounds an awfully lot like what we often do as Technical Communicators. Let’s look at this a little closer.

Technical communication is a process, something we engage in whether or not we produce anything. Think about all the time you spend talking (and listening) to people within your organization. We communicate technically when we work with users, editors, developers, HR or any individual within an organization. In that context, we are engaging in a process – we are communicating technical and non-technical information to an audience. Yet, when it comes time to relay to our boss what we “do” we often forget about these essential, daily actions.

We get bogged down in the numbers – completed documents/projects, new document initiatives, the total number of documents available to your organization. When passed up the chain, these numbers are just that, numbers. There is no direct correlation to the business. Thus, it’s easy for those removed from the process to discount what we do (produce documents) and eliminate that position so that funds can be reallocated to a department that easily shows direct impacts to bottom line business (such as sales). So what do we do?

I think we look at our positions at Technical Communicators more like Gartner looks at Enterprise Architects. Our job is not to produce but to facilitate. We are facilitating technical communication through documents, presentations, formal and informal conversations, company-wide standards, etc. We do more than just write – we assist the business with communication that supports the overall enterprise goals and objectives.

When we look at our jobs that way, it becomes much easier to align our daily activities with strategic corporate initiatives. We did not write a document simply because we were asked (or told) to. We crafted that communication to provide the sales team with an additional tool for their new sales strategy. We created that user manual, help text or tutorial to provide users with a reference tool which, in turn, cuts down on help desk related calls. We standardized how documentation is managed to help internal employees save time when searching for the reference they need.

By viewing ourselves and our role as active, verb-like participants, we not only help justify our place in an organization, but we also help make ourselves indispensible. So the next time you get bogged down in deadlines and document metrics, stop and ask yourself: “Are you a noun or a verb?”

Source: Gartner Clarified the Definition of the Term 'Enterprise Architecture'; Publication Date: 12 August 2008; ID #G0016559

Why Should I Track ROI?

2009-05-18T12:39:39.447-07:00

Long-gone are the times of endless (and excessive) spending – on both a personal and corporate level. As we tighten up our pocketbooks and purse strings, corporations are also analyzing the ways they spend money – specifically as it relates to training, development, and documentation. While some view this as threatening (“They’re cutting my budget so much I can’t do anything!”), I think this is a much needed shift in corporate culture. As professionals, we should be responsible for showing how our efforts impact bottom-line business. So how exactly do we do that?

First, we have to get past the notion that ROI, or Return on Investment, metrics are a bad thing. ROI, in essence, is what justifies our positions as leaders within our fields. I think the fear of change is behind most people’s aversion to ROI. If looked at from a positive light, gathering metrics that show the program’s you’re implementing have a direct impact on the business gives you (and your department) tremendous power. Now, you not only have the ability to implement training programs, but you have a way to measure a program’s success. Imagine walking into an executive committee meeting with a new idea and being able to justify it with hard metrics (actual dollars & hours saved) and soft metrics (employee satisfaction and growth). See the power of ROI?

“Ok, ok,” you say, “That’s a nice ideal, but how do you actually measure those things?” Here’s where it takes some creativity and lots of planning. At the outset of the project, you MUST determine what you’re going to measure. ROI figures will not be accurate unless you figure this out before you even start. You have to take a snapshot of the business BEFORE the training program or documentation project is initiated so you have a baseline.

Then, you must keep track of the costs (effort as well as dollars) it took to implement the program. Sometimes this is straightforward. Other times, you have to look creatively at how to collect this data. Once your development is done, you must have a solid plan in place for the roll-out of your new program. Document your plan and your progress (you can use this later to help you structure other programs.) This roll-out plan should also get factored into the overall “cost” of the project.

Finally, you have to wait and measure. I know; this is always the hardest part! Because of the nature of training and documentation, cost benefits are not realized overnight. Sometimes it takes weeks, most times it takes months, and for some projects it takes years. Be prepared and ensure your management team is prepared to take the time needed to accurately gauge whether your program was successful.

As your program becomes part of your company’s culture, continue taking baseline measurements at regular intervals. Are your metrics different one month, three months, nine months after the implementation? Taking periodic measurements not only helps you chart savings, it also allows you to continue to tweak your program according to the business climate. (Again, be sure to keep track of development costs.) When you reach the end of your measurement term, take your final measurements then analyze the impact the program had on the business, both hard benefits and soft benefits. Was your program successful? Hopefully, the answer is yes and you’re able to see real cost-savings as well as tangible soft benefits.

By viewing ROI as a welcome opportunity to demonstrate your department’s value to the company, you empower yourself (and your employees) to have a bigger impact on the business. Embracing ROI helps eliminate unwarranted fear and replace it with the confidence needed to support the programs you’re passionate about. You also demonstrate that you are committed to being fiscally responsible to your team as well as the business as a whole. With all those benefits, how could you not want to show the Return on Investment for the projects you currently have going?

Registering a Custom DasBlog Theme

2009-05-15T07:54:02.998-07:00

In a WordPress world, I went with DasBlog . My choice was purely based on language needs – I have a Windows/.NET based website. I needed a blogging platform that seamlessly integrated with it. Enter DasBlog.

My one concern with DasBlog was the limited amount of themes. It was essential that my blog be similar to my Written Designs website and have a professional look-and-feel. On the DasBlog website there are only had handful of themes to choose from. However, the instructions for customizing a theme were readily available. After looking through the themes, I found elements from a couple I liked. Sweet – with these instructions, I’ll be able to create my custom theme in no time!

Well, no time turned into days (a phenomenon many developers are familiar with). While I figured out how to modify the homeTemplate, dayTemplate, and itemTemplate as well as each CSS sheet with ease, I could not figure out how to register my custom theme. The code that the DasBlog site says is in the web.config file is not there. (Grrr!) After doing a few Google searches, I discovered other people had similar issues with customization. “Well, ok,” I thought, “I'll just work around it.”

For the time being I settled with simply overwriting an existing theme to bypass not being able to add my own. The following day, on a whim, I started looking through the code in some of the other theme files. Low and behold, I discovered the problem!

Instead of the registry code being in the web.config file, it is contained within theme.manifest file within each theme folder. While this is noted on the customization page , the explanation is simply that the new version (1.9) now utilizes these new theme manifests. Scrolling down the page, you still find instructions for adding this info to the web.config file. Hmmm, so how does it really work then?

Once you update your specific theme manifest, the code gets referenced from the site.config file. Ta-da you have your theme registered! After thoroughlyreading through each page on customizations on the DasBlog site, I found that this information is included, but it takes some looking (you have to read - not skim). So h ere’s a quick reference to register your new DasBlog theme (for those who are skimmers like me):

Copy an existing theme folder down from your ftp server. Or create each file needed for your new theme.
Copy the site.config file from your ftp server.
Open the theme.manifest file. Update the theme name, title, templatedirectory, and imagedirectory items. Save the file.
Open the site.config file. Update the Theme to the theme name indicated in the theme.manifest file. Save the file.
Upload your new theme folder and the site.config file back to the live ftp server.

Presto! You’ve got your own DasBlog theme registered and ready to use. Now it’s time to start blogging. Go Write Now!

Discovering Your Product's Voice

2009-05-14T09:39:04.858-07:00

Writers often hear about “discovering your voice” when writing fiction. After all, the challenge of fiction writers is to craft a story that is compelling, interesting, and dynamic. Your characters must be likable; your readers must be able to relate to them or else they will simply set your story aside for something more interesting. The voice in fiction is often your character’s or narrator’s voice. It is that voice, the tone, the choice of words, how those words are arranged into sentences, that convey the deeper nuances within good fiction.

I am an avid reader. I revel in delightful, compelling fiction yet my attention can be equally captured by the solid, thought-provoking prose in a non-fiction novel. Good non-fiction has a compelling voice else there would be very few of us who continued to buy non-fiction.

Enter technical writing. Technical writing is non-fiction writing, yet many people (both companies and consumers alike) treat their technical documentation as an afterthought -“We have to document our product because we need to offer online help, user guides, etc. But we know our customers rarely use them.” Why is it that customer’s shy away from the technical documentation offered with products and services?

I think it comes down to voice. Let’s face it, most technical documents are boring. We, as technical writers, try to spice things up, but there are only so many ways you can say “Now, click Next.” Too often, companies are in a rush to get their documentation out with their products. This causes writers to rush – they do their best at getting the information down on paper but have little time to consider the voice of the whole publication. They’re just happy when they meet the ever looming deadline. The documentation gets out, hardly ever gets read, and customer service continues to receive the same types of calls in spite of those issues being thoroughly documented.

Now imagine how things might change if the application or service suddenly became a character. You’d still explain all the technical details about your product. You’d still include all the screen shots, tables and instructions, but the tone would be different. Your product would become the main character and, as such, it would have a distinctive voice. Maybe the voice is more familiar and includes current technology slang if your audience is of a younger generation. Perhaps the voice is more formal, but concise and friendly, for a corporate business audience. Either way, the product takes on its own persona. Your writers have the ability to include more details, tidbit, and side bars about how the application works, its quirks, and, ultimately, its power. The documentation becomes an extension of the product itself instead of simply an afterthought.

Once the documentation becomes an integral part of your product, you’ve opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. High-quality, comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and training materials can then become revenue-generating tools that could set you apart in your industry. Your documentation becomes an integral part of your business, driving sales and providing actual ROI to both you and your clients. Your customer service related calls are reduced. Your clients have more successful implementations and adoptions of your products. In short, you’ve reduced overhead while boosting sales – all because you discovered your product’s voice.