The 2018 call for proposals is now open!
Please submit your proposals through the Proposal Submission Form.
In 2018, the Society for Technical Communication will celebrate 65 years as the world’s premier organization for those who explain the complex, demystify the confusing, organize the chaotic, and manage the content that enables our modern civilization to function. The profession we call Technical Communication has always looked forward to that which is about to become reality and that which is still in the imagination of the creative engineers of tomorrow.
At the 2018 Technical Communication Summit, we’ll learn, network, and share information about how technical communicators have always communicated the future to their audiences.
We are looking for speakers to share their knowledge, research, work experiences, technical expertise, and, most importantly, willingness to teach others. We invite you to submit proposals using the official 2018 Summit proposal submission form. The 2018 Summit is 20-23 May, at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Florida, USA.
Topics of particular interest for Summit 2018: Communicate the Future include:
- The Future of How We Work
- How do evolving workplace technologies impact the technical communication profession?
- What comes after user-generated content? How does crowdsourcing and big data/mega data impact how we will work tomorrow?
- The Future of Where We Work
- Healthcare, energy, finance, and government all have need of the kinds of skills and expertise technical communicators possess. But they may not know how to acquire our services. If you have successfully bridged that gap, consider sharing the experience.
- Automation isn’t just happening in factories anymore. The future of autonomous vehicles and the internet of things (IoT) means that technical communicators will be working in all occupational sectors in greater numbers.
- The Future of You at Work
- Being good at your job typically means that you are not only good at explaining the functions of the product you document, but that you also see your workplace as a system that could function better. This category of proposals aims to address successful workplace solutions that have added value to your company (business development/improvement). We are also looking for tips and tricks (or “hacks”) that made your entire workflow or release cycle more efficient. Share your story with the Summit audience and clarify how their future could operate as smoothly as yours does.
- Management and leadership positions are not what everyone strives to achieve. But every organization has leaders who need their employees and teams to work better together. How do real-time collaborative technologies allow teams to work together seamlessly no matter their location?
Summit is the conference to attend for professional growth in a changing workplace. Over three days, attendees will see how to “Communicate the Future” through a myriad of workshops, networking events, and educational opportunities.
Education sessions should demonstrate an unexpected, advanced, or less traditional way of looking at or fixing a problem with tangible solutions. Attendees should feel inspired to stretch boundaries and achieve more. This idea can be applied to all sorts of topical areas, including content strategy, project management, career paths, teamwork, business management, and more. Remember: the future has yet to be written!
The Conference Committee is looking for sessions that deliver new knowledge to attendees—knowledge that they can apply to advance their career or perform their job better. Your audience will be looking for practical advice, solid examples, reliable supporting data, and consensus agreement that what you present is something they can use at work in the near future (the day or two after they return from Summit)!
Who attends the Summit?
Our attendees are professional technical communicators. Most are full-time employees; some are independent consultants or owners of small businesses. They work at all levels, from beginners to experienced veterans. Occupations include: technical writers, editors, illustrators, managers, information designers, architects, content strategists, instructional designers, usability and user-centered design practitioners, researchers, professors, and students. When submitting a proposal, consider topics that will appeal to a range of these professionals.
Who can submit a proposal?
Anyone with experience in the latest communication techniques, technologies, approaches, and solutions is invited to submit. You are not required to be an STC member to submit a proposal, but you are limited to a total of two session proposal submissions and two pre-conference workshop submissions. Review these proposal guidelines as you prepare to submit your proposal
What is the Conference Committee looking for in a submission?
We welcome and review all submissions so that we can create the most relevant and comprehensive program available. For the 2018 Summit, we will use the following track areas to group similar proposal topics:
- Writing and Communication
- Education and Training
- Career Development and Leadership
- Tools and Technology
There are several types of sessions, so please consider the presentation type that best fits your topic and your presentation style.
We welcome and review all topics and ideas to create the most relevant and comprehensive program available.
Don’t forget to check out these tips for how to set your proposal apart from the rest. Submissions that are incomplete or missing information may be ruled ineligible or returned for re-submission.
How are proposals managed?
During the call, the proposals are given a quick review to make sure they are complete and meet the minimal requirements prior to review by the program team.
At the end of call period, the proposals are grouped by related track area before being reviewed by the program track team. The track teams use a set of review criteria to analyze and score the proposals for sorting.
Review criteria examples:
- Does the proposal fit the theme of “Communicate the Future?”
- Is the topic timely and of interest to our attendees in May 2018?
- Does the topic provide fresh insights and tangible takeaways that can be applied when attendees return to work?
- Is the topic relevant and important for our industry?
- Does the title and abstract grab the reviewer’s attention and clearly describe what an attendee will learn in the session?
- Does the session proposal demonstrate the proposer’s mastery of the subject and provide a clear outline for the session?
- Is the proposal concise and well written?
Timeline
After all submissions for a track are reviewed, the track teams provide their recommendations to the Conference Committee Chair, STC staff, and Program Manager for final consideration. In November, the Society will notify submitters of their proposal status and whether their submission has been selected.
Please submit your proposals through the Proposal Submission Form.
If you have any questions, please contact the Conference Committee for more information.
Our attendees are professional technical communicators. Most are full-time employees; some are independent consultants or owners of small businesses. They work at all levels, from beginners to experienced veterans. Occupations include: technical writers, editors, illustrators, managers, information designers, architects, content strategists, instructional designers, usability and user-centered design practitioners, researchers, professors, and students. When submitting a proposal, consider topics that will appeal to a range of these professionals.
Anyone with experience in the latest communication techniques, technologies, approaches, and solutions is invited to submit. You are not required to be an STC member to submit a proposal, but you are limited to a total of two session proposal submissions and two pre-conference workshop submissions. Review these proposal guidelines as you prepare to submit your proposal
What is the Conference Committee looking for in a submission?
We welcome and review all submissions so that we can create the most relevant and comprehensive program available. For the 2018 Summit, we will use the following track areas to group similar proposal topics:
- Writing and Communication
- Education and Training
- Career Development and Leadership
- Tools and Technology
There are several types of sessions, so please consider the presentation type that best fits your topic and your presentation style.
We welcome and review all topics and ideas to create the most relevant and comprehensive program available.
Don’t forget to check out these tips for how to set your proposal apart from the rest. Submissions that are incomplete or missing information may be ruled ineligible or returned for re-submission.
During the call, the proposals are given a quick review to make sure they are complete and meet the minimal requirements prior to review by the program team.
At the end of call period, the proposals are grouped by related track area before being reviewed by the program track team. The track teams use a set of review criteria to analyze and score the proposals for sorting.
Review criteria examples:
- Does the proposal fit the theme of “Communicate the Future?”
- Is the topic timely and of interest to our attendees in May 2018?
- Does the topic provide fresh insights and tangible takeaways that can be applied when attendees return to work?
- Is the topic relevant and important for our industry?
- Does the title and abstract grab the reviewer’s attention and clearly describe what an attendee will learn in the session?
- Does the session proposal demonstrate the proposer’s mastery of the subject and provide a clear outline for the session?
- Is the proposal concise and well written?
After all submissions for a track are reviewed, the track teams provide their recommendations to the Conference Committee Chair, STC staff, and Program Manager for final consideration. In November, the Society will notify submitters of their proposal status and whether their submission has been selected.