This issue of Intercom focuses on writing and editing concepts, particularly curating content in different environments. Three authors in the issue have approached content curation from analogous perspectives—writing for engineers, writing for content reuse, and writing for clinical trials—but their environments differ greatly.
Because many technical writers work with engineers in the workplace, Bradford Connatser has written an article about the many challenges in helping engineers improve their writing by teaching good writing habits and “unteaching” or helping them to unlearn bad ones. Johanne Lavallée from Quebec, Canada, explains how a technical communicator’s best skill—organizing—can be used to successfully complete a content reuse project that considers feasibility, needs, costs, and other variables. And Pankaja Kulabkar analyzes the writing of a clinical trial document for Type 2 diabetes in India.
I extend gratitude to Adobe for sponsoring the July/August issue of Intercom. Adobe expert Jang Graat has written a first-hand review of the new release of FrameMaker 2015, along with descriptions of the software’s best features. This issue also marks the launch of a new column by Ray Gallon on standards, a guru interview by Scott Abel of Dr. Robert Glushko, and a student perspective by Kirk St.Amant’s guest columnist Adam Fout.
Did you attend the STC Summit or have you been to an interesting conference this year where your ideas were sparked? Consider writing an article for Intercom on an upcoming topic! October is the “Social Issue,” focusing on topics such as building networks and social business strategies, how companies deliver content through social media, community-driven content, new roles in the social landscape for technical communicators, volunteering and mentoring via social activities, how social activities advance your business, and social marketing. The December issue of Intercom is dedicated to the “State of the Industry,” and I am soliciting articles on the bellwethers of the profession, the state of the discipline, and intersections with related fields (such as academia, usability, medical, information architecture, usability and UX, and information development). I hope I hear from you!
