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Other Specialties
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Degrees
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MA Professional Writing (2008) and a BA in Communications (1982)
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My Expert Service
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As a technical writer with more than twenty years of experience, I’ve had the opportunity to create a wide variety of technical texts.
Whenever possible, my writing practice attempts to place users at the very center of a document’s development process. I am not referring to mere “user-friendly” writing, characterized by clear prose, strong visuals, and solid design -- that’s a given. I am referring instead to “user-centered” writing, in which the user is not only viewed as the inspiration behind a project but also actively involved as early on in the development process as possible.
I believe that by having a better understanding the specific nature of my users’ work, I can create documents that are customized to the context of use rather than documents that are generically universal for an assumed user I conjure up in my mind.
To accomplish this, I prefer to engage with users before I even start writing. Depending on how widespread the audience, I use meetings, teleconferences, surveys, discussion boards, and on-site observation to make this collaborative connection. I ask a multitude of questions, but more importantly, I listen.
I try to ferret out the organizational and cultural constraints placed on the user as well as the users’ expectations of the document. I continue to engage with users throughout the development process, eliciting feedback and incorporating suggestions. The success of the end product depends on whether or not readers can use it to accomplish the work necessary in their particular situation – so why not include them from the beginning to help ensure that outcome?
The visual aspects of a technical or business document are often just as critical to facilitating understanding as the linguistic aspects. My broad background as both a practitioner and teacher of web page design, graphic arts, and typography, in combination with my professional writing experience, allow me to create documents in which the visual and verbal elements modify, compliment, and compensate for one another to accomplish the goals of the communication.
Additionally, I understand the underlying persuasive mission of technical documentation. A well-written technical manual can promote the commercial marketing of a product by making it appear easy to use. My deep appreciation of technology helps inform my writing to this end.
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Experience & Qualifications
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I have written several technology-related books, including Internet Search Techniques (Ziff-Davis Publishing, now in its third edition), The Internet Illuminated (Skillpath Publications), and Computers in Clinical Practice (American College of Physicians). In addition to these mainstream books, I've has written hundreds of user guides, reference manuals, tutorials, course manuals, and articles for a wide variety of clients (Merck, J&J, Comcast, Aetna, Dun & Bradstreet, ARCO Chemical and many more).
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Available Modes Of Communication
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email/chat
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Contact
GeekyGirlKarinRex
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