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Post details: Three reasons why I didn't blog in January

02/01/08

Permalink 07:55:56 am, Categories: Just Stuff :-), 412 words   English (US)

Three reasons why I didn't blog in January

  • Projects. I've been working on several projects over the last month or so. On one, I'm helping get documentation ready by making SME edits and asking questions (little writing, lots of editing). On another, I'm helping a client customize their Author-it outputs for Word and HTML, matching their branding and corporate requirements. On a third, I've been finishing my Author-it 5.0 training materials (and I've given half of a web-based class on it). I still have to finish the definitions for the features on HAT-Matrix.
  • Conference sessions. The conferences themselves may not be for a couple more months, but the materials have to be ready ahead of time. For WritersUA, I'm coordinating a panel on HAT features, and I'm co-presenting with Geoff Hart on editing online Help. I'm also preparing for a panel at STC's Technical Communication Summit (more on that when I can).
  • Time. I'm always amazed at how long it takes me to write a blog entry. After I write it, I read it, re-read it, make sure I'm saying what I mean, edit it, correct typos...and I still miss stuff ;-) I've thought about writing numerous times...and then I realize that I need to make a deadline or take a call or whatever, and I push it off. Of course, I managed to push it off so long that I completely missed blogging anything in January.

One thing that hasn't stopped me is ideas. I have so many I've started lists. Lots of lists. Lots of lists on all different sizes of paper, stored wherever I was at that time. New features in HATs. Choosing a HAT (and why you might consider more than one). Learning curves. XML. XML v. XHTML. DITA. Upcoming conference sessions (mine and others). Upcoming STC chapter meetings where I'll be speaking. Updated HAT Matrix definitions. Accessibility. HTML 5. Standards. Structured authoring. An Event Apart (which is coming to Boston again!). Technical communicator v. technical writer and why it matters. (If you're not on HATT, you missed an awesome post by Chuck Martin that I'll quote. When I blog that topic.) Other blogs I read (since I managed to disable the blogroll when I started my blog and haven't figured out how to turn it back on yet. See the third bullet above ;-)).

So...stay tuned :-) I promise to do better in February. And if you have a preference for one of the above topics, or if there's another topic you're interested in, let me know!

Comments:

Comment from: rhonda [Member] · http://www.cybertext.com.au
Lists: I've started using Toodledo (http://www.toodledo.com/) an online 'to do' list. It works well, and, following the GTD principles, you can categorize your lists and put them in folders. So I have separate folders for client work (one for each client, personal stuff, my own company stuff, conferences etc.
Permalink 02/01/08 @ 19:42
Comment from: Tom Johnson [Member] · http://idratherbewriting.com
I definitely missed your posts lately. The longer you wait to post your ideas, the harder it gets. Re all the ideas, I just want to hear what you're enthusiastic about.
Permalink 02/05/08 @ 00:09
Comment from: debdebtig [Member]
I'm really interested in hearing about the difference between technical writer and technical communicator. I changed jobs recently and am now a 'Technical Documentation Specialist' and I'm not sure what the difference is with that one either.

Rhonda - I'll have to check out toddledo, I've used 'don't forget the milk' on google, but it doesn't help much.
Permalink 02/13/08 @ 16:02

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