By Theresa Pojuner on October 15, 2012
What happens when your new job is to manage or reinvent a Documentation Department? Where do you begin? What do you need to know? Here are some tips on getting to know your Department and Technical Writers without stepping on any toes and without being too forceful. There is a lot to talk about here, […]
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By Gail Zack Anderson on October 8, 2012
Storytelling Do’s Last time we talked about storytelling in presentations, and we named some of the benefits of doing so. If we are going to tell stories and enjoy those benefits, it is obvious that we will need to learn how to do it well. Accordingly, here are some of the best practices you will […]
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By Theresa Pojuner on October 2, 2012
We are all always learning and thinking. I came across a new expression and/or synonym for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that Technical Writers create that I was not familiar with. It’s called Work Instructions (WI) or Job Instructions (JI), and I thought I would give a short post on this newly discovered item. In a […]
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By Gail Zack Anderson on September 26, 2012
Maybe you have heard you should use stories to bring your content to life, but aren’t sure why or how storytelling adds value. You might even wonder if using stories is worth the risk of looking silly, or worth the time it will take to learn to do it well. Here are some of the compelling reasons why I think it is worthwhile to use stories and storytelling in your presentations.
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By Theresa Pojuner on September 18, 2012
In the previous post, I talked about focusing on some of the more fundamental and helpful components of a document (charts, figures, images, flowcharts, pictures) and their usage. My next favorite tool along this line of usage is the application of tables. Using tables for simplifying the presentation of data provides a comprehensive arrangement of […]
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By Gail Zack Anderson on September 11, 2012
Perfect Rehearsals When you are preparing for a really important presentation, and you want it to be just right, what special steps should you take? Here are some tips that will help ensure that practice makes perfect: Say it out loud. Just as soon as you have your main ideas on paper, begin practicing out […]
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By Gail Zack Anderson on September 4, 2012
Now what about handling questions when they come your way? Some of us love questions and answers. Others freeze or get defensive. Here are three tips for preparing to answer questions from your audience, whether they are easy or challenging. Think ahead. The worst questions are the ones we didn’t see coming. Take time during […]
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By Theresa Pojuner on September 3, 2012
One of the most essential components of a document is charts. As Technical Writers, we always write concisely, and clearly, but there will be times, when we need the assistance of charts to communicate what was written. Whether it’s for qualitative or quantitative explanations we sometimes need charts to truly present the whole picture. There […]
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By Theresa Pojuner on August 18, 2012
As a Technical Writer, we cannot forget about writing for the Call Center teams who have to answer to clients, buyers, or users of a product or application. They have to be patient, understanding, knowledgeable, and diplomatic. To assist them, the Technical Writer has to be able to create the materials needed by them. Training […]
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By Gail Zack Anderson on August 13, 2012
During your presentation you ask a question…nothing. You crack a little joke…crickets. You start to sweat a little. What is happening? Is this a hostile audience? Did you just offend someone? Is there something in your teeth? Before you go into a tailspin of doubt and worry, ask yourself if it is possible that you […]
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Gail Zack Anderson, President of Applause, Inc., has nearly 20 years experience in training and coaching. She
provides individual presentation coaching, and leads effective presentation workshops and effective trainer workshops.
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Theresa Pojuner is a Documentation Specialist with over 20 years of writing experience and is skilled in many areas of documentation, for example, Style Guides, Training Manuals and Test Cases, wth a specialty n Technical Writing and Procedures.
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