Many of us are starting to return to the workplace after a long stretch of remote work. Some of us may be very excited about this. Others may be a bit anxious. Yet we all must move forward as we reach the endemic part of the pandemic. Something to keep in mind as we … Continue reading…
I have attended quite a few Zoom meetings as a participant, but not as a host or co-host. I belong to a birding organization that hosts monthly Zoom meetings, and have been interested in helping out as a co-host, but felt I didn’t know enough to try. So, I was delighted to attend the January … Continue reading…
This article is for all writers, whether technical or document writers– fully employed, contractors or freelancers. It will primarily cover three topics that seem difficult for many writers to master (especially the second one below). Scoping the work Ensuring changes are costed (time and fees) Includes two sample forms The origin of the topic comes … Continue reading…
At the February Ohio STC meeting, Pam Bichsel of Academic Coaching Specialists discussed the lies we tell ourselves about why we can’t be mentors and provided sound advice about being a mentor Some of the excuses included “I’m too young (or too old),” “I’m no expert,” “I’m not good enough,” and “I don’t have time.” … Continue reading…
STC Florida is seeking mentors (from any STC chapter) to pair with students from the University of Central Florida. Currently, the program has more students seeking mentoring than mentors available. We’re delighted about the interest among the students, and we want to provide enough mentors to enable them to get started in the program. So … Continue reading…
Instead of drawing for someone who submits an article to our newsletter, we are opening up the drawing to anyone who correctly answers the following question and submits the answer by midnight EST May 20, 2022, to jeanette.evans@sbcglobal.net. Is the following true or false? STC Florida seeks mentors (from any STC chapter) to pair … Continue reading…
In a previous post about the book discussion social (held late in 2021), we talked about Map It. Other books mentioned during the discussion included: Dog on It The Currency of Gratitude The Girl from Everywhere The Last Green Valley All the Light We Cannot See Marriage Can Be Mischief Reinvention Roadmap About Dog on It (quoted from … Continue reading…
A Spectator Is an Artist Too Johan Idema. 2020. BIS Publishers. 9-789063-695903. 176 pages. US$22.19 (softback). What happens when you see a work of art that is beautiful, puzzling, irritating, or challenging? That is a question posed in the visual feast that is A Spectator Is an Artist Too which itself made me think it – … Continue reading…
When the temperatures drop, I am always amazed at the ability of birds to stay warm. They have a number of strategies, including fluffing their features to create air pockets for additional insulation. They also pack on the pounds before winter to provide insulation and extra energy. One of the most interesting adaptations is their … Continue reading…
Building on the trend of organizations and individuals being more inclusive of marginalized groups, websites, such as The Diversity Style Guide, exist to guide us through the process. Being sensitive to the language of diversity and inclusion can aid in having open, healthy, and heartfelt conversations. Whether it’s in written material or conversation, being aware … Continue reading…
The Ohio STC community relies on a dedicated team of volunteers to maintain our chapter. There are an array of volunteer opportunities including: Communications, Membership, Newsletter, Programs, GoToMeeting Specialist, Eventbrite Specialist, Networking Lunches and Social Events, Competition, Academic Relations, Honors Chair, Vendor and Sponsor Relations, and Webmaster. All of these roles are actively seeking new … Continue reading…
Aiessa Moyna is the Vice President of the STC. She is also a Vice President of Communications for American Express, working in New York City. Aiessa has worked in technical communications for more than 30 years. Over her career, in addition to technical communications, she has held roles in corporate communications, public affairs, and media … Continue reading…
When we held our last drawing for the winner of a $20 gift card for a contributor to Lines & Letters, Julianne was the lucky winner. If you submit an article for our newsletter, you are eligible to be in our drawing. Submit articles to newsletter@neostc.org.
Bob Dianetti and I incorporated Radcom in October 1996. During most of its first year, Bob ran the business full time. We had two clients and Bob was the only employee. He did most of the work at the clients’ location. By the fall of 1997, we were growing. We hired our first employee and … Continue reading…
If you could use a reminder (or look for the first time) at the ethical principles promoted by STC, here is the text. Ethical Principles As technical communicators, we observe the following ethical principles in our professional activities. Legality We observe the laws and regulations governing our profession. We meet the terms of contracts … Continue reading…
About a dozen people met via Zoom for the book discussion social hosted by Angie Dianetti on December 16, 2021. The meeting did not disappoint. Enjoy what Kim Lindsey had to say. “This Book Review Networking Lunch was a microcosm of all the best things about our STC chapter! Everyone had such diverse suggestions for books, games, hobbies, … Continue reading…
Quiplash is one of the games we played and enjoyed during our virtual game night social in November, 2021, using the Jackbox online game application. A big thank you goes out to Angie Dianetti who organized and hosted the event. The game of Quiplash is broken up into rounds where players are given prompts to … Continue reading…
Not only did Darlene Richard recently agree to become a co-editor of Lines & Letters (with Paul Holland and Jeanette Evans), she recently worked with STC president (and most impressive) Kirsty Taylor on an article at the http://ohiostc.org/cmswp/spotlight-on-kirsty-taylor-stc-president-and-life-long-writer/ site. And, an interesting side note is that both Darlene and Kirsty live in Australia (with Darlene being … Continue reading…
What is it like to write for a living? Michael Straczynski addresses this question in part in Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer. Straczynski also addresses the question of why people write when he quotes Steve King as King notes that you “do it because not to do it is suicide” (p. 2). Straczynski also notes that … Continue reading…
Jeanette Evans (co-editor of this newsletter) challenged me to write an article for the January newsletter about the ‘word of the year’. A little research revealed that the one word used excessively this year was, ta da! = vaccine. I’m sure it was easy enough for anyone to guess. However, how was I to write … Continue reading…
