TechWhirl: Technical Communications Recap for June 1, 2012

[INKtopia Admin <admin -at- inktopia -dot- net>]

*This week’s update on technical communications and the TechWhirl community
is supported by Platinum sponsor Madcap & their Ultimate Communications
Suite, MadPak <http://goo.gl/eO3ls> | http://bit.ly/zBI0Uj*



At TechWhirl, we’re well into our second full year of ownership, and when
we reflect on how far we come in 14 months, we can honestly say “what a
journey it’s been.”  So often what happens on and around TechWhirl
parallels what happens in technical communication—implementing new
technologies and an evolving content strategy, collaborating with
remarkable people around the globe, researching, designing, and, of course,
writing.  In all honesty, we’ve made some missteps, particularly on that
implementing technology front.  But we’ve gotten a lot right as well, at
least judging by the feedback and conversations we have.  These experiences
are the kind of stuff you can’t learn in school, undergraduate or
graduate.  It’s constant on-the-job training for both Al and me.



And perhaps it’s part of the reason we’re devoting the month of June to
“Skills to Survive and Thrive.”  We want to understand and share what it
takes beyond “book learning” and tools skills to be successful in the
technical communication field in general, and in our organizations in
particular.  There’s a flock of new graduates in technical communication
eager to soak up what the old pros can offer, and even the old pros have
enough sponge in them to gain something from their peers.  We’d love to
hear from you as to the kinds of skills you think are necessary in today’s
business world and your resources for learning and honing them.  The folks
on the Special Writers Unit are ready to go with articles that take a look
at these skills, but we encourage you to drop us a note via the email
discussion list<http://www.techwr-l.com/about-technical-writing-discussion-groups.html>,
a comment on this post, or a direct email, to share what you know…or what
you want to know.



Don’t be left out, take this week’s Technical writing poll on the best
workspacelayouts for technical
communicators<http://techwhirl.com/business/polls/technical-writing-poll-office-layout-and-technical-communication-productivity/>,
and then peruse part 3 of Tony Chung’s series on Crowdsourcing as a
Technical Communication
Exercise<http://techwhirl.com/business/next/crowdsourcing-as-a-technical-communication-exercise/>.
Craig Cardimon heartily recommends Krista Van Laan’s new book, *The
Insider’s Guide toTechnical
Writing<http://techwhirl.com/careers/book-review-insiders-guide-to-technical-writing/>
*.  Find out why in his review.



Enjoy your weekend!

-The gang at TechWhirl
In Case You Missed it: This Week @ TechWhirl

*New features and articles on http://TechWhirl.com <http://techwhirl.com/>**
:*


   - Tech Writer This Week for May 31, 2012, by Craig Cardimon |
   http://bit.ly/N0Bhqq
   - Crowdsourcing as a Technical Communication Exercise, by Tony Chung |
   http://bit.ly/Jt3twl
   - Technical Writing Poll: Office Layout and Technical Communication
   Productivity | http://bit.ly/KOpqt2
   - Book Review: Krista Van Laan’s Insider’s Guide to Technical Writing,
   by Craig Cardimon | http://bit.ly/KlQAIk



*Tech Comm News on http://News.TechWhirl.com <http://news.techwhirl.com/>: *


   - IGC Releases Brava! 7 with Compare for EMC Documentum TaskSpace |
   http://bit.ly/L8NbKB
   - Study Finds Online Compliance Training More Effective in Regulated
   Industries | http://bit.ly/NeeZ22
   - Brightcove Offers Nine New Video Cloud CMS Integrations |
   http://bit.ly/LQ6la9

Social Media and the Chance to Follow TechWhirl:

   - Our Google Plus Page – what’s happening behind the scenes |
   http://goo.gl/SO0R4
   - Will you be our Friend? Please, you know you want to click |
   http://goo.gl/tDrW7
   - Want all this TechWhirl goodness a few characters @ a time |
   http://goo.gl/itjDg
   - Updates from TechWhirl delivered to your email in box |
   http://bit.ly/tjshxU
   - Or, try our RSS feed (great on Flipboard) | http://goo.gl/msLzu

SPONSOR-Luv

We want to send a very special “thank you” to our sponsors for their
support.



*Platinum*: Adobe Systems
Incorporated<http://www.runaware.com/clients/adobe/techsuite/>

*Gold: *ComponentOne Software <http://bit.ly/doc-to-help>,* *Madcap
Software<http://www.madcapsoftware.com/products/flare/overview.aspx#whatsnew>
**

*Silver*: Society for Technical Communication (STC)
<http://www.stc.org/>, Vancouver
Island University <http://pr.viu.ca/techcomm/>

-- 


TechWhirl.com
Online Magazine and Discussions for Today's Tech Writer

Follow TechWhirl on
Twitter:         @TechWriterToday
Facebook:     facebook.com/techwriterlist
Google+:     plus.ly/TechWhirl

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