Resource Library

FAQ’s about Contracting

FAQs about Independent Technical Communication from the STC Rocky Mountain Chapter.

International CIC SIG Mailing List

Discuss issues with more than 2,400 independents worldwide: Join the international CIC SIG list.

CIC SIG Handbook

The CIC SIG Book is a collection of essays by members of the Consultants & Independent Contractors Special Interest Group of the STC.

International CIC SIG Web Site

See STC Contractors & Independent Consultants SIG.

STC Task Force Community Funding and Support Recommendations

Recommendations_on_Community_Funding_and_Support.doc

From February through April 2010, members from chapters in Canada, India and the U.S. met by teleconference to discuss how the organization could help its chapters and special interest groups thrive. These recommendations to the Board represent the top three priorities in different areas—Finance, Logistics, Marketing, Communications, and more.

Download the Recommendations of the International STC Task Force on Community Funding and Support: (Word document).

Share Your Wisdom

I hope this will become a resource. I would like to suggest that every member, especially senior members who may not be involved on a day-to-day basis, post one piece of advice. Not necessarily to those starting out in our profession, but to anyone it might help.
I suppose I should start. Freecycle! There are groups all over where you can post any item that you want to give to someone who needs it. The only rule is that it must be absolutely free. No strings attached. It helps others, it makes room in your home, it makes use of things you aren’t using, and it makes you feel good. Who’s next?

DocTrain West 2008 Slides

Conference slides and handouts from the local DocTrain West 2008 conference are now available here.

See slides on Simplified English, Wikis, RoboHelp 7, Single Sourcing, XML, DITA, Web 2.0 and a whole host of other topics.

HRDC Hosts Go Consult

For those of you interested in consulting, Human Resources Development Canada hosts a Successful Contracting and Consulting workshop. It runs for 10 days and has multiple intake dates. For more information, visit http://www.goconsult.ca.

US Government ‘Research-Based Web-Design and Usability Guidelines’

Download this free book at http://usability.gov/pdfs/guidelines.html

Presentation: E-learning:The Basics and Beyond

Many technical writers are asked to create training materials while working in a technical or development department, and have to quickly adapt their technical writing skills to work within the structure of instructional design principles.

At the March STC Canada West Coast program meeting, Vicky Ryan demystified e-learning by explaining its core components, best practices, and through examples show how to create engaging and informative e-learning deliverables for audiences.

About our Speaker

Vicky Ryan is the Director of Interactive Production at Chalk Media. She graduated from Simon Fraser University. Her professional interests include creating online and blended training, developing e-learning strategy, content development, and instructional design. Her team was recently awarded the Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award for Custom e-Learning Content.

View Vicky’s presentation