Part 2 - Tips and Tricks for Technical Writing

Ready to take your technical writing to the next level, but not sure where to start? Would you like to learn some tips to freshen up your writing approach? In this episode and the next we share more of our favorite tips and tricks for technical writing. Our guide, Jennifer Petrie Signore, PhD has spent years working to become the best and most versatile technical writer possible, and she shares her tips with you. In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics, such as:

• Document review and completion
• Software tools for technical writers
• How to better leverage the tools you use each day
• When to involve your teammates
• How to improve the review process

1:30 – Recap of last episode.

2:30 – What is Jenn’s process for finishing a document. 

5:15 – How to make Microsoft Word work for you and speed up your writing process. Jenn discusses tools within word which help improve the writing process, such as:

• Document sections
• Styles tool
• Table properties
• Table anchors
• Page layout (eg landscape and portrait)

9:45 – Other types of software which may help your writing process, such as:

• Excel
• EndNote – Reference Manager
• Perfect It

17:30 – Jenn provides her tips for finalizing documents including how to conduct final editing and revision activities. In summary:

• Step away
• Ask a colleague for help
• Tips for editing and revision.

22:00 – Review as a team effort: tips for leveraging teammates and colleagues. When is it time to hand a document over? When is it appropriate to reach out for feedback?

31:45 – Final thoughts, summary, and wrap-up