In this episode I’m talking to Swapnil Ogale, a Technical Writer Advocate for Redocly based in Melbourne, Australia, who is also a Community and Conference Manager for Write the Docs. He gives us the inside scoop on arranging Write the Docs events conferences both in-person and online, and talks to us about the importance of advocacy for technical writers.

The Not-Boring Tech Writer - feedback survey

Twitter - Swapnil Ogale

LinkedIn - Swapnil Ogale

Write the Docs

We’re back after a short and unexpected break! Sorry to keep you waiting!

This episode you’ll hear Kat Stoica Ostenfeld, an accomplished tech writer living in Copenhagen in Denmark. A linguist by credential, she says diplomacy is the key to being an effective documentarian, and shares how her translation and applied linguistics background helped her find common understanding and success in the world of technical writing.

Additional topics: Beautiful limestone buildings; puppy chat; spouse sacrifices; documentation as its own pillar; language proficiency vs successful communication; the meaning of “documentation”; linguistics applied; the diplomacy of being a tech writer; full stack teams; writing rage; linguistic detective work.

The Not-Boring Tech Writer - feedback survey

Twitter - Kat Stoica Ostenfeld

LinkedIn - Kat Stoica Ostenfeld

Medium - Kat Stoica Ostenfeld

Write the Docs

Tekom

Kat's talk from WTD Sweden 2020

In this episode, I’m excited to be speaking to Caity Cronkhite, Seattle-based founder and CEO of Good Words LLC.

We talk about her experience of starting up as a tech writer both in-house and freelancing, before starting and growing her own successful business in the technical writing industry, and the successes and struggles of operating Good Words LLC in these strange and unpredictable pandemic times.

Additional topics: U-Haul montage; Something Big and Impactful; (not) going the way of the startup; nurturing your network; adult, painstaking colouring.

Read the full transcript for this episode here.

Show notes:

• Good Words LLC
• Email Good Words LLC
• LinkedIn - Caity Cronkhite
• LinkedIn - Good Words LLC
• Society for Technical Communication

In such a complex and fast-moving industry as tech writing, it can be interesting to see how burgeoning tech writers get started - and become successful.

Enter Philip Kiely, author of Writing for Software Developers and owner of PK&C, the world's smallest conglomerate. He graduated from Grinnell College in May 2020 with a degree in computer science, and has only gone onwards and upwards from there!

This week I speak to Philip about being a new(-ish) entrant to the tech writing game, becoming a first-time author of a successful book, adventures during his time studying abroad in Budapest, Hungary, and how he managed to infiltrate a hackathon in Iowa during a blizzard!

Read the full transcript for this episode.

Show notes:

• Philip Kiely’s website
• Writing for Software Developers

After four exciting years hosting The Not-Boring Tech Writer—the podcast that gives listeners the skills to break the stereotype that technical writing is a boring career—I’ve passed the podcast along to longtime sponsor KnowledgeOwl, a knowledge base software company.

This sobers me, admittedly: What began as a medium to connect with colleagues whom I’ve admired since university gradually become a resource for new and seasoned technical writers alike to learn the skills they need to break the stereotype that technical writing a boring career.

Now, as I begin a new career, KnowledgeOwl—who, as you’ll learn in this episode, has a relentless commitment to supporting the technical writing—will ensure the philosophy you’ve impressively fostered through this podcast continues.

In this episode, Chief Executive Owl at KnowledgeOwl Marybeth, joins the podcast to share her vision for the podcast. In addition, upcoming host and KnowledgeOwl employee Jerrard Doran joins to share how he’ll further the philosophy while adding his own unique approach.

Thanks, all, for your support of The Not-Boring Tech Writer—and hope you enjoy this episode.

Read the full transcript of this episode.

Technical writers must ensure their help resources, such as documentation and video tutorials, are useful for their users. Therefore, they study language, design, and Support tickets—gathering all the context they need to ensure users can accomplish their task.

But get this: Through feedback loops such as quizzes and interviews with subject matter experts, you can create usability tests that transform the way in which you measure the effectiveness of your documentation.

That’s why in this episode, we have Mariana Moreira on the podcast: Technical Writer at Zup Innovation and Community Manager of Brazil’s budding technical comm community, Tech Writing BR.

Joining us, as well is Jerrard Doran at KnowledgeOwl—longtime sponsor of The Not-Boring Tech Writer—to discuss usability tests from a knowledge base software company’s perspective, as well.

In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know to begin creating usability tests for your organization.

Show notes:

• Tech Writing BR
• Knowledgeowl knowledge base software
• Skill #11: Surviving in the Dev World
• Mariana on LinkedIn

Technical communicators wield the power of plain language to ensure their readers find and understand the information they need to complete a task—no matter how complex.

Basic design principles, such as alignment, contrast, and other principles you’ll learn in this episode, give your documentation that extra lift it needs to engage readers throughout your documentation.

That’s why in this episode, we have Laci Kettavong on the podcast: Marketing and Member Coordinator at Stoke, a coworking space based in Denton, Texas—and also a former technical communicator in both industry and academia, deploying design principles for several different mediums.

Joining us, as well is Jerrard Dorran at KnowledgeOwl—longtime sponsor of The Not-Boring Tech Writer—to discuss design principles from a knowledge base software company’s perspective, as well.

In this episode, you’ll learn everything you need to know to begin using basic design principles in your documentation.

Show notes:

• Non-Designer’s Design Book
• axe-con
• Knowledgeowl knowledge base software
• Laci on Twitter
• Laci on LinkedIn
• Laci’s blog

Folk working in technical communication—whether they’re academics or practitioners—through their own unique skill sets, perspectives, and experiences, often discover best practices to excel at their job. These hard-earned insights would likely benefit others facing similar challenges; however, silos often keep folk in technical communication from quickly disseminating what they’ve learned.

That’s why Dr. Chris Lam—technical communication professor at the University of North Texas—created CrowdsourceTPC: a crowdsource platform that gives folk in technical communication and opportunity to share their insights and little wins—giving others an opportunity to use and adapt them for their own needs.

In this episode, Chris joins us on the podcast to discuss the inspiration behind CrowdsourceTPC and how others can make the most of the platform.

Show notes:

• Chris Lam on LinkedIn
• CrowdsourceTPC