Category Archives: workplace

Playing Nicely With Subject Matter Experts

Posted on April 20, 2013 by

I gave this talk today at the 2013 STC Rocket City Technical Communication Conference. Perhaps it will be of some use to you. When Working with SMEs Goes Badly I began my talk with a couple of Subject Matter Expert … Continue reading →

Posted in clients, documents, Office Politics, personal, technical writing, workplace | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wearing of Many Hats

Posted on April 11, 2013 by

Life in a small business is always challenging because you end up wearing more hats than you would at a large business. It’s one thing to write about it in the abstract, it’s another to live it. I’ve been at Zero Point … Continue reading →

Posted in careers, technical writing, workplace | 2 Comments

The Latest from Zero Point Frontiers

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

Here’s something fun: the Huntsville Times did a story on Zero Point Frontiers’ work with Virgin Galactic this week. Check it out: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/11/more_commercial_space_work_for.html#incart_flyout_news Note the handsome gent in the background of the lead photo with the Darth Vader head on his desk. … Continue reading →

Posted in marketing, workplace | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pulse Check: Zero Point + One Month

Posted on October 30, 2012 by

This seemed like a good time to provide a sanity check on the new job at Zero Point Frontiers. The good news is that I’m quite happy where I am. I made a good choice, which was not always a … Continue reading →

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Technology User Challenges

Posted on October 20, 2012 by

Awhile back, a good friend described me as “a Luddite in techie’s clothing.” She might have a point. My biggest challenge at the new job continues to be adjusting to all the new machines required for my job, especially the … Continue reading →

Posted in personal, Technology, workplace | Leave a comment

Silly Season Politics

Posted on October 5, 2012 by

I am usually of the sort who avoids politics in polite company. I’ve even made strenuous efforts to avoid it on Facebook, which is not easy these days. I know which side I favor, and I know that I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Office Politics, personal | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Writing in the Corporate Voice

Posted on July 14, 2012 by

Regardless of what sort of materials you write, you have to select or acquire a style that fits the personality of the individual or organization on whose behalf it’s being written. Style is one of those things that’s hard to … Continue reading →

Posted in audience, Office Politics, technical writing, workplace | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Editing for Scientists and Engineers

Posted on July 7, 2012 by

It is easy to be underestimated as a technical writer/editor, especially in high-functioning organizations like IT or aerospace engineering. Just because you don’t have an engineering degree does not mean that you are ill-equipped to correct scientists or engineers when … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, engineering, science, technical writing, workplace | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Working in the Little Room

Posted on June 30, 2012 by

If you ever take a job doing proposal writing, eventually you will spend some time in The Little Room. Okay, maybe it’s not that little, but there are a few attributes to a proposal “war room” that are pretty common, … Continue reading →

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Basic Ethics for the Technical Communicator

Posted on June 16, 2012 by

Like most people, when I get cranky I can be tempted to make less-than-wise decisions. This is not a good idea. Ethics are central to a writer’s trade because if we are not ethical in how we handle ourselves and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Office Politics, philosophy, technical writing, workplace | Tagged | 1 Comment