Why Technical Writers Shouldn't be "Writers", by Alan Porter

Why don’t people respect the documentation we create as much as we do? Maybe part of the problem is that the vast majority of us are writers. We love the written word. Perhaps, we love it a little too much? We need to ask ourselves is the written word the best thing for documentation? Is it the best thing for us as an industry, and is it the best thing for you as a content developer.

This presentation will take a look at why we are so focused on the written word, and present a few ideas about better ways for us to deliver our message to the end user in a way that increases customer satisfaction, and might even gain docs a little more respect.

The presentation will discuss what we as documentation professionals can learn from just observing the world around us, and how people communicate.

Alan Porter has 20 plus years experience in corporate communications, marketing, and content development in both the UK and the USA. Alan is a catalyst for change with a strong track record in developing new ideas, embracing emerging technologies, and introducing operational improvements. He has been involved in the development and adoption of various industry standards, and is a regular speaker at industry conferences, blogger and Twitter addict, who is happy to talk communications to anyone who will listen. He is also a published author with several books, comics and numerous magazine articles to his name.

When: Tuesday September 8, 2009
   6:00 - 6:30 PM: Networking
   6:30 - 7:45 PM: Program
   8:00 - 9:00 PM: Dinner

Where: Ernest Cockrell Jr. Hall (ECJ) at the University of Texas
   Engineering Foundation Room (10th Floor)

You can park on either side of Dean Keeton or in parking lot #25 next to the building. See http://www.utexas.edu/parking/maps/.

Networking dinner to follow the program at Sao Paulo's Restaurante.