Technical writing

Updated: Thu Apr 17 2025

Technical writers are a Venn diagram of detective, translator, and librarian.

Venn diagram

Detective: Tracking down information across wikis, SharePoint, Confluence, legacy systems, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
Librarian: Knowing what information is available, what information users actually need, and where to find it.
Translator: Tech writers interact with a bunch of folks with differing commands of the English language, as well as those whose priority or focus isn’t on the writing. We get it, we’re all busy. That’s where tech writers and editors come in.

30+ years of experience means I’ve touched on all aspects of technical communication.

I’ve created:

Pros and Cons of using Markdown for tech docs panel discussion
Content Wrangler webcast, 2024

Adding value as a technical communicator webinar
STC Instructional Design and Learning special interest group, 2020

Timeless TechComm Tips presentation
STC New England Interchange conference keynote, 2020

Drive your docs with data webinar (video)
STC Instructional Design and Learning special interest group, 2018

Social media for technical communicators presentation
STC Philadelphia Metro chapter Conduit conference, 2016

Tools