Report from the Self-Employment Trenches: 
Strategies for Success on Your Own Terms

Those of you with “regular” jobs…can you truthfully say you’ve NEVER thought about “going out on your own” ?

Here’s your chance to hear from a panel of self-employed technical communicators: Adrienne Charak, Karen Harrington, Mindy Hoffbauer, and Thea Teich. Come to the January 21 SWO meeting and find out how you can, why you should, and in some circumstances, why you should not go out on your own. 

If you’re currently working independently, join us on the 21st to find out how and what some of your colleagues are doing—and maybe add your points of view to the discussion?

Just about all technical communicators have at some point at least considered working independently. The panel members will each discuss some specific lessons learned from their combined almost 40 years in the self-employment trenches, including business organization, resources needed, networking, finding clients, and combating isolation. There will also be plenty of time for questions, so here’s your chance to get answers about whether working on your own is right for you.

Location:  Indiana Wesleyan Cincinnati Education and Conference Center, 9286 Schulze Drive, West Chester, OH 45069

Directions from Interstate 75 (North or South):

• From I-75 Take the Union Centre Boulevard exit (#19).
• Turn west (right if south-bound on I-75; left and across the overpass, if north-bound)
• Go to Mulhauser Road (first stop light).
• Turn left (south) onto Mulhauser
• Go to Schulze Drive (first left).
• IWU is straight ahead, on the right, next to the new Hampton Inn. (Also, this is very, very close to the new IKEA!!!)

Schedule:

• Networking: 5:30-6:00 pm
• Dinner: 6:00pm
• Program: 6:45 pm

Dinner:  A variety of sandwiches plus salad, cookies, and beverages

Cost for program and dinner:

• $15 for members
• $20 for non-members
• $12 for students

       Program only:

• $5 for members and students;
• $10 for non-members

To register:

Send an email to program@stc-swo.org.

All no shows will be billed. Please include your name, email address, membership status (member, non-member, or student), and how you will pay (cash, check, or Pay Pal). Click here for instructions about Pay Pal payments. Non-members must pay in advance via Pay Pal.

…Or Not

Voice is important.

Mother and very talkative toddler walk through the security entrance into the children’s library. Mom looks down at Johnny and puts her finger to her lips. “Remember Johnny, use your indoor voice.”

We’re not toddlers, but we need to remember that voice is important. When you read over a document, hear these words in your head, “Remember…use your reader-friendly voice.”

A reader-friendly voice IS NOT:

• Intimidating: We write to get through to readers, not to showcase our knowledge or call attention to our expertise.
• Overly clever: If the typical reader of a business or technical document notices the eloquence of the language or the aptness of a well-turned phrase, the technical writer is probably being way too clever.
• Professorial: Infowriting is neither textbook material nor lecture notes. Our relationship to our readers is collegial, not schoolmaster-pupil.

A reader-friendly voice IS:

• Competent: Infowriting doesn’t showcase knowledge; it builds on it. Readers must be convinced that we know what we’re talking about, and gaps in foundational knowledge show up as defects in the writing. Writing with a competent voice means assembling all the relevant facts, eliminating knowledge gaps, and building the document on a solid base.
• Conversational: Boredom, inattention, laziness, and distraction show up in oral conversations. They also affect the voice that comes through written documents. To keep the reader engaged, adopt the reader’s point of view and use the reader’s language.
• Wise: writing with a wise voice means anticipating the reader’s questions, finding the answers, and integrating that information into the fabric of the document.

Here’s an SWO Perk for You

Did you know that, as an STC-SWO member, you are part of a user group that gives you access to all kinds of reader-friendly perks. Here’s part of an open letter from Peachpit Press to you:

Dear User Group members,

Our countdown to 2009 is marked with the release of more than thirty new titles—the New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square has nothing on us here at Peachpit!

We’re covering everything from how socially conscious design can change the world with David Berman’s Do Good Design, to innovative storytelling techniques that you can apply to all aspects of filmmaking and media production with Norman Hollyn’s The Lean Forward Moment. There are many more great titles coming your way, including new CS4 releases.

Have a wonderful Holiday and see you in ’09!
Jackie Hill
usergroups@peachpit.com
800.283.9444 x129

So here are the latest offers, just for you:

Writing for Visual Thinkers

From now until the end of the year, the Peachpit Press is offering SWO members a chance to review their new eBook, Writing for Visual Thinkers: A Guide for Artists and Designers, by Andrea Marks, an associate professor at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.

Go to the Account Sign-In page on Peachpit.com and enter the following information to log in:
   • Email address: ppvideoreview@gmail.com
   • Password: facebook

This eBook presents ideas and methods that can help visual thinkers become better writers. It shows how to translate visual ideas into words that are just as compelling and thoughtful. The digital format enables live links to video and audio podcasts, relevant websites, exhibits, galleries and more. Let Peachpit Press know what you think—send feedback to usergroups@peachpit.com.

Interested in Writing Other Book Reviews?

If you’re interested in reviewing books, let us know. Your e-mail should list the following information IN THIS FORMAT:

GROUP NAME/YOUR NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE
QUANTITY
ISBN AND TITLE

You will have 90 days to complete a review, post it in Between the Lines, and send it to Peachpit Press. (Peachpit also asks  that reviewers try to post their reviews to Web sites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Borders.)

Saving the Best for Last…

You can visit Peachpit.com to select a free monthly book. Remember, we will accept book requests for up to two weeks after you receive the monthly newsletter. You have to get your requests in by the deadline, so you can continue to enjoy great books for free!

Select the operating state for your group and click Submit. Select your group name from the pull-down menu and fill in ALL the required fields that follow. Please do not forget to include your phone number as this is now required for shipping. (Incomplete requests will not be processed.) If you experience any problems with the form, you can submit your monthly book selection directly to usergroups@peachpit.com.

What SWO Is Doing

Chapter President Louise Tincher cleared her desk and shared these notes with Between the Lines.

Tech Fest
SWO will participate in the seventh annual TechFest program on February 14 and 15, 2009. TechFest is a program of the Affiliate Societies Council (ASC) of Dayton designed to expose K-12 students to career options in science and technology. The Ponitz Center (Building 12), the Center for Interactive Learning (Building 14) and the AIM Center (Building 13) in Dayton, Ohio at Sinclair Community College is the location for this year’s program.

In 2008, 2600 youths during the two-day program. This year’s TechFest includes hands-on, interactive exhibits staffed with volunteer professionals from societies, companies, museums, universities and other technology organizations, including students, providing youth and family members exciting opportunities to investigate and discover a wide range of science, technology, engineering, math and medical (STEM) careers. In addition, a range of fun and captivating presentations and teacher workshops will be offered. This program is free to all with free parking under the Ponitz Center.

We need volunteers to setup the STC booth on Friday night, staff the booth on Saturday and Sunday, and provide portable PCs for our exhibit. For more information about TechFest and ASC, check the  ASC website.

SWO-STC February Meeting: Transitioning from MS Word 2003 to 2007
Our February 18 meeting will be a dial-in webinar. Stay warm and cozy while sharpening your skills. Bunny slippers optional.

Mad Anthony Writers’ Conference
To familiarize writers and businesses with technical communication as a profession, SWO has committed to supporting the Mad Anthony Writer’s Conference with a half-day seminar on technical communication Saturday March 14. Our chapter president has been working with conference organizer Nancy Schwab (nschwab@ywcahamilton.com). So far our planned presentations are as follows:

• Introduction to Technical Communication – Dr. Sandra Harner, Cedarville University
• Technical Communication and Your Bottom Line – Sylvia Miller, STC Associate Fellow
• Panel Discussion: Technical Communication as a Profession

We plan to have three or four people (volunteers, anyone?) for the panel discussion. We will also have the traveling exhibit of award-winning technical communications from the STC International 2007 competitions.

Free Madcap Software Webinars
MadCap Software is offering free tool-independent webinars. In this economy, everyone needs to make sure their skills are up to date and they’re current on the latest topics.

Towards that end, MadCap software is running a series of free webinars in first quarter 09. All but one are tool-independent. No sales pitches, no product pitches, just free training to help people update themselves. If these are successful, we’ll do more. It’s something we can give back to the community that makes us successful.

For more information and to sign up for one or more free webinar, go to http://madcapsoftware.com/training/webinars.aspx.

If you’re interested in presenting a topic in the future, contact Sharon Burton at sburton@madcapsoftware.com.

SWO heldo its December meeting early (on the 10th) to avoid major conflicts with the upcoming holiday season, and it was a doozy. If you stayed home, here’s what you missed:

A mini-course about proposal writing
David (Mo) Morrison, a Senior Training Consultant from Shipley Associates, talked us through:

• Navigating the proposal preparation POWER cycle:  Planning, Organizing, Writing, Examining, and Revising.
• Addressing the seven criteria used to evaluate an effective proposal:  compliance, responsiveness, strategic focus, competitive focus, quality of writing, visualization, and document design.
• Defining the solution your customer needs and wants by delineating major issues, lining them up with your proposed solution, and clearing laying out the benefits associated with y;our solution.
• Maximizing the effective use of graphics and key visuals.
• Developing strategy statements and theme statements and understanding the difference between the two.
• And much more…

A chance to win one of our extremely excellent door prizes from Shipley Associates

• An 30-day subscription to the Shipley Associates’ online training library, won by Pam Ecker.
  
  Winner Pam Ecker, flanked by SWO’s Louise Tincher and SA’s Mo Morrison

• A copy of Shipley Associates’ Proposal Writing Guide, won by Peter Sullivan.
  
                    Winner Peter Sullivan, with Louise and Mo.

The chance to network and share resources:

• Valuable interaction with other writers
• Introductions to potential employers

In this economy, missing networking opportunities is not something you want to do very often.

Cedarville University: A 20/20 Vision for the Future

On November 8, for the first time in sixteen years, The Cedarville University student chapter of STC hosted a one-day conference for professionals, students, and academics in our area.Entitled "A 2020 Vision for the Future," the conference focused on the future of the technical communication profession. The conference replaced SWO’s November meeting, and chapter members attended en masse (make that demi masse; there were about ten of us), along with STC members from Northeast Ohio and other locations.

The conference day began with a welcome by chapter officers and a 9:30 keynote presentation by STC President Mark Clifford. Special guest speaker Dr. Carolyn Rude, chair of the English department and Professor at Virginia Tech as well as a past president and Fellow of STC, gave the after-lunch address.

Morning and afternoon breakout sessions freatured presentations by SWO members Sylvia Miller, Phil Wittmer, Thea Teich, and Judy Harper, among other educational and entertaining sessions. 

Welcome to CAV!

by Harold Fox

Welcome to Between the Lines for this new program year. I know, this is not the first issue, but it is the first in which my column appears, so I want to extend the welcome on this, my first opportunity this year. For any readers who are new to "Calling All Verbivores," (CAV), let me just say that it is a recurring column that has to do with the wonder of words and language.  If you share my fascination with that subject, you are a verbivore, and this column is produced for you.

In the preceding number of CAV I posed the following puzzler:

What common English word is 9(sic.) letters long, and each time you remove a letter from it, it still remains an English word … from 9(sic.) letters all the way down to a single remaining letter? (WordRiddle video) 

The solution appears below, but try it for yourself before peeking.

Do you like lists?

Generally, I like lists. Occasionally, previous numbers of CAV have referred to lists.  For example, I have reported or referred to lists of neologisms, lists of "words of the year" from various sources, lists of examples of gag-inducing business jargon, lists of semordnilaps, and so on.  Therefore, when two lists having to do with words came into view since my previous number of CAV appeared, I marked them as fodder for a column.  As I considered ways to begin this number of CAV I was thinking of all the lists we encounter.  I don’t mean the bulleted or numbered lists that are so important to the documentation that we do professionally.  Those are utilitarian, very important items in our communication toolbox.  I mean, rather, such lists as the Ten Best ____, or 100 Best ____, or 100 Greatest Movies of All Time.  

Indeed, if you reflect for a moment you will recognize that we encounter myriad lists.  Among familiar ones, the New York Times list of best-selling books is one of the oldest.  The "Top Ten List" of David Letterman’s "Late Night Show" would seem to be a strong contender for the most frequent topic of water cooler conversation.  If you are a fan, you might already know that the Letterman lists are archived on the "Late Night Show" website, A site titled "Lists of Bests" includes the list of 1000 greatest films.  Another item on that list of bests is "Nancy Pearl’s Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason."  As of the date of my reading, it contained 2559 titles.  Indeed, Google reports "about 407,093 items" for the search on "Books on or of lists."

[That sound you heard was a slap on the hand to get me back on track!]

Perhaps you can agree that we seem to be swimming in a sea of lists.  Just to heighten your awareness of that environment I now point you to the two mentioned below.

The first one appeared in AARP Bulletin, October 2008:  "What Are They Talking About?  50 Words That Kids Think You Don’t Know" by Betsy Towner. I won’t give you the whole 50, but a few examples may be sufficient incentive for you to follow up for yourself in the online-archived article.  The items are listed under 11 headings: online, text message decoder, fashion, love, friends, music, actions, affirmations, descriptions, britishisms and the end.

ONLINE
    wikidemia: a term paper that was researched entirely on Wikipedia.org
FASHION
    tramp stamp: a tattoo on a woman’s lower back, designed for viewing between low-riding jeans and short T-shirts
    scooby doos: good shoes
LOVE
    boo: boyfriend or girlfriend
    cupcaking: engaging in a public display of affection
FRIENDS
    frenemy: a friend enemy; someone close to you who often hurts your feelings
    nOOb: a newcomer, especially one in online gaming.  Also noob, newb, or newbie
ACTIONS
    floss: to show off your wealth, often in a car
    rock: to manifest greatness
AFFIRMATIONS
    foshizzle:  certainly
THE END
    badonkadonk: an attractive derrière

 How many of those terms did you know?

 The other list is from the BBC News online magazine.  The magazine asked readers for their favorite words.  Overwhelmed by nominations, they published a list of 50 of the entries under the title "50 of your favourite words."(sic.) ()
The following are selected from the list of 50, citing the nominator of each, along with at least a portion of the nominator’s accompanying comment and the ordinal number of the word in the list:

2.    Poodle-faker – a young man too much given to taking tea with ladies.  Jane, Pembroke
5.    Spanghew – to cause (esp. a toad or frog) to fly into the air off the end of a stick. …Michael Everson, Ireland
6.    Scrimshanker – one who accepts neither responsibility nor work.  Maurice De Ville, Chesterfield
8.    Tmesis – to break one word with another.  For example: dis-bloomin-graceful, un-flippin-believable. … Colin Rogers, Maidenhead, Berks
9.    …quidnunc – which means one who gossips … Katie, Hickory Hills, IL, USA
12. …urt – Urt is almost onomatopoeic, since an urt is a "leftover bit."
      Eric McConnachie, Clear Lake, Ontario, CANADA
16. Petrichor – the sweet smell of rain on dry earth  Natalie, Glasgow
28.    … kakistocracy … The government of a state by the worst citizens.  A very useful word!  Helen Collins, London, England
36.    Borborygmus – the rumbling sound that comes from an empty stomach  Rupam, Ashburn, VA USA
45. Tattterdemalion – a person with tattered clothing or of unkempt
      appearance.  … I know several people who could have this word attributed to them… Graham, Luton, England

Those are some of my favorites of the "favourites."(sic.)  Take a look for yourself if you are curious about the 50.

Here is the promised solution to the puzzler repeated above:

The word is STARTLING.  First remove L to leave STARTING.  Then remove T to leave STARING.  Next remove A to leave STRING.  Then remove R to leave STING.  Next remove T to leave SING.  Then remove G to leave SIN.  Next remove S to leave IN.  Finally, remove N to leave I.

Until next time, send me your solutions (or suggestions or complaints or stumpers) at hfox@juno.com or 2005 Burroughs Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45406.

Learn How in Six Weeks

by Margaret VanWinkle

“Writing great technical documents” is our goal as professional technical communicators. That is also the name of a six-week on-line continuing education course that I recently completed.

The course introduction promised to help us write with confidence, recognize and overcome common writing problems, and revise our writing to achieve more power and clarity. That’s quite a promise.

Since I’m a natural skeptic, I was surprised and delighted to see the promise fulfilled.

Content

Do you know the definition of an “inkhorn term”? Do you know how to form plurals of acronyms? Can you recognize a “circumlocution” or a “hedge word”? Do you know how to design a chart appropriate to the data being presented? Do you know how to design a document for both managers and technical readers?

The instructor covered these and many other topics. She opened with a fascinating review of historical writing and went on to discuss different writing styles and audiences. She then expanded to words, sentences, paragraphs, and documents.

The final lessons covered punctuation, graphical elements, document design, and formatting specific types of technical documents.

Course Structure
Lessons were released each Wednesday and Friday, and each lesson site remained open for two weeks. The instructor provided relevant and concise responses to our questions in the chat room at least once a day (except for weekends and holidays).

Each lesson consisted of 4–5 chapters, a list of supplementary material, a writing assignment, and a quiz.

• The supplementary materials list included both reference books and pertinent articles from a variety of internet sources.
• Writing assignments provided an opportunity to post a writing sample that other students critiqued. The instructor then critiqued the original writing sample and the other students’ critiques. This provided a real-life opportunity to give and receive constructive criticism.
• Quizzes could be re-taken until a grade of 100% was received. The quizzes did not count toward the final grade.

The final exam consisted of 36 multiple-choice questions and could not be re-taken. A Certificate of Completion was immediately issued if a passing grade was obtained (approximately 70%; the exact percentage is stated at the beginning of the exam).

Website, Cost, & Other Details
I discovered the course through the continuing education listing from my local community college (Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio, www.ed2go.com/cscc).

The course is also available through www.ed2go.com. Before you rush to this site, I would alert you that it actually cost twenty dollars more to enroll through the website ($129 in the summer of 2008) than through Clark State (currently $99). You may want to look at Clark State or a local community college for similar courses before enrolling through www.ed2go.com.

The instructor also offers a basic course called “Fundamentals of Technical Writing”. Since I had been a technical writer for the prior two years, I chose the advanced course. If you are thinking about entering the field, the basic course may be more appropriate.

In Summary
As the course progressed, I found myself anticipating the release of each new lesson and facing work on Monday mornings with excitement. I think it is safe to say that this is the first time I have regretted seeing a course end.

I now know that an “inkhorn term” is a word created during the Renaissance by common people who wanted to appear more educated. I watch my plurals, I avoid circumlocutions and hedge words, and I create charts appropriately. I have increased confidence in my ability to design a project with all the necessary elements.

Technical writing may be “dry”, but it does not have to be stilted and boring. I came away from this course with a renewed delight in writing and an awareness of the inherent joy in communicating well.

What Is Extra and What Is Essential?

by Bryce A. Walat

Bryce is president of STC Pittsburgh. He wrote this timely item as the chapter’s monthly president’s column and offered to share it with us, because many members are thinking about not renewing or joining, given the current economic situation.

Recently, I’ve heard other STC members talking about the economy, especially the rising cost of fuel, food, health care, and other necessities, and the falling value of their homes and investments. For some STC members, their membership in STC is a prime candidate for an “extra” item to cut from their personal or professional budgets.  You may be thinking about not renewing your membership in STC when it expires, or if you aren’t a current member, you may be having second thoughts about joining STC. If you still plan to renew or join STC, you may also be thinking about cutting back on meetings or events.

Before you decide not to renew or join STC, or skip a meeting you’d like to attend, I’d like to ask you this question: Over your lifetime, what is your most valuable and biggest asset?

1. Your home
2. Your education
3. Your career
4. Your retirement plan

Answer: Your career is your biggest and most important asset. Your career gives you the income to get the necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter, and also to get an education, real estate, a retirement plan, and other investments and assets.  When you think about how much of your time every day you spend working and how much of your lifetime is spent working, you can see why your career is so important. That’s why it’s important to manage your career well.

STC helps you manage your career by helping you to:

• Launch your technical communication career or transition into a technical communication career
• Learn new skills and enhance existing ones
• Find opportunities to network with fellow technical communication professionals
• Find a new job or a better job
• Launch an independent technical communication career
• Find help when you need it
• Improve your “soft” skills, such as public speaking or team-building skills

The cost of STC membership is “chump change” compared to the value it adds to your career. For example, STC’s free or low-cost articles, seminars, and conferences give you knowledge and skills to not only keep up with changes in the fast-paced technical communication field, but also get ready for the technical communication jobs of the future.

On a personal note, I’ve now been through four “career transitions” in my eight years as a technical communicator. In some cases, they occurred because of circumstances beyond my control, such as economic conditions; in others, there were things that I could have done or not done that might have led to a different outcome. In every case, I found STC to be a helpful resource to manage these transitions. STC proved valuable as a go-to for technical communication job leads, ways to improve my technical and interpersonal skills, and just to know that I wasn’t alone in my career transition.  STC Pittsburgh’s WorkQuest was, as the MasterCard slogan goes, priceless.  Also, in every case, employers and potential employers noticed my membership in STC on my resume, and some even knew of me from STC.

As President of STC Pittsburgh, part of my job is promoting the chapter and the Society, and I wrote this column as a way to promote STC and to make a case that STC is more important to your career in times like these. But I also wrote it to explain how STC helped me and why I joined STC.

With that in mind, if you join or renew your membership in November, you’ll receive two months free, because your membership won’t expire until the end of 2009. Visit stc.org to join or renew. Also, ask me about membership, because not only am I STC Pittsburgh’s President, I’m also a member!

ST-What?

You get a blank look when you mention STC? even from some of your techcomm colleagues? That means it’s time.

• Time for you to break the code of silence that has shrouded our profession and our professional society since its inception at the dawn of technology.
• Time for you to spread the word about who we are, what we do, and how much we contribute to the 21st century zeitgeist.
• Time for you jump into the STC Member-Get-a-Member campaign. 

How do you do that, you wonder? Here are some suggestions from the STC web site:

1. Read Tips and Ideas.
2. Read Talking Points.
3. Find the membership application here.
4. Start recruiting.
5. If you have other questions, email Stacey O’Donnell or Lloyd Tucker.

And if the advancement of your profession is not sufficient incentive, here are some goodies that might interest you:

• For every ten members you recruit, your name will be entered to win: An Apple iPhone!
• For every five members you recruit, your name will be entered to win: One of three free, full conference registrations to the STC 2009 Technical Communication Summit (a $795 value!)
• For every three members you recruit, your name will be entered to win: Five free web seminars in 2009.
• For every member you recruit, your name will be entered to win: A free, twelve month membership for the 2009 membership year.

The prizes apply to recruiting all member categories except student. The campaign runs through 31 December 2008.  Awards will be announced in January 2009.