by Geoff Hart

Myths often represent the very human attempt to explain something important but poorly understood, such as the turning of the seasons, or to provide cautionary tales to warn listeners against unsanctioned behavior, as in the myths of Prometheus and Epimetheus. The fascination inspired by myths has kept many alive across the millennia, but despite the degree of abstraction or exaggeration that makes them so fascinating, there is often a grain of truth or an insight into some fundamental aspect of the human condition at their heart. In our current enlightened age, we fancy that we've grown beyond the need for myths, yet "urban legends" abound (particularly on the Internet), and many of the things we do in our daily work are strongly influenced by "rules of thumb" that are, in a very real sense, a form of myth.

by Lain Chroust Ehmann

Maybe you've reached a point in your career where you'd like to give a little something back and help others just starting on the path. Or maybe a newcomer to your company has approached you and asked you to be his mentor. Or maybe you often serve as an informal mentor to those around you, and you find you enjoy the role and would like to formalize it. Whatever your unique situation, you want to know more about mentoring, what you can do for others--and what you might get out of the relationship, too.

Understand what a mentor is...and is not The way the term "mentor" is bandied about, it's easy to assume that everyone knows exactly what everyone else is talking about. But just like "family values" or "effective advertising," the definition depends on who's doing the defining.

by Lain Chroust Ehmann

As you're trying navigate the peaks and valleys of the work world, who couldn't use a good dose of common sense, practical wisdom, and "been there, done that" support every now and then? But when it comes to mentors--someone well-versed in your industry and willing to share her experiences with you--it seems like only the lucky few are blessed.

The benefits of having a mentor's steady hand on your shoulder to ease you through the tough times and celebrate the good are obvious. But few of the popular career guidance books--from What Color Is Your Parachute to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting the Job You Want--tell you what you really need to know about mentors: Namely, how to get one, and how to keep one. But don't despair; few people enter the work world with a ready-made mentor. Instead, you need to actively pursue finding one--and take good care of her once you find her.

by Lain Chroust Ehmann

To many aspiring novelists, poets and journalists, working as a technical writer seems like the perfect stepping stone to their dreams. After all, you'll be paid to put pen to paper--something every wannabe writer dreams of. So what if it isn't the Great American Novel? You'll still have time for your own writing in your off hours. Or will you?

If you are thinking about transitioning from your current non-writing position to technical writing because it's a hot market, you like technology, and/or you want to round out your freelance portfolio, you're on the right track. But if your main reason for considering the technical arena is that you enjoy writing, then re-evaluate your decision.

I am currently researching information for a presentation that I will be giving on the topic of "Technical Writing Careers and Roles". The goal of the presentation is to explore different types of technical writing careers. If you could take the time to answer a few questions about your current or past technical writing experiences, it would be very helpful.

Note: Answer as many questions below as you wish

1. What motivated you to be a technical writer, and why did you choose it over other possible careers?

by M. Katherine Brown (Kit)

Mention team technical reviews to a group of tech writers and chances are good that you will either get a loud, collective groan, or the group will vie to tell the best review horror story. On the one hand, technical reviews are a vital part of our jobs because they help us to produce high quality product documents. On the other hand, technical reviews gone wrong are the bane of our existence. The good news is that we have the power to conduct consistently effective technical reviews.

This article summarizes why we do reviews and what often goes wrong in reviews, and then summarizes steps to take before, during, and after technical reviews that can help you conduct effective team technical reviews. Although your process and team may differ from what's described here, you can apply the information in part or in whole to improve your current review process.

by Andres Heuberger, ForeignExchange Translations, Inc.

Why do technical writers need translators and translation companies? With all of the advances in computer technology, can't I just use a software application or online translation tool instead?

The past decade has seen significant advances in machine-translation (MT) technology. While MT is still a ways off its goal of replacing human translators, today it is used successfully in several industry sectors (incl. automotive, aerospace, defense) with lots of documentation to be translated.

by Lain Chroust Ehmann

You don't have to spend hours making cold calls or squander money on invisible advertisements in order to find new clients. In fact, savvy businesspeople--technical writers included--know the best way to expand your client base is by leveraging the resources you already have.

by Bruce Byfield

Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well.
--Havamal (Translated by W.H. Auden and P.B. Taylor)

What do contract technical writers have in common with the 10th Century Vikings to whom this advice was addressed? Simply this: Like a Viking, contractors survive--and prosper--on the strength of their reputations.

Most contractors can't afford the time or money to advertise. If they can, there probably aren't many places where an ad would reach potential clients anyway. By default, then, your reputation as a contractor rests on your behavior at each job. Leave a happy client behind at the end of each job, and you'll soon start a word-of-mouth campaign that will keep you employed the rest of your working life.