Diane Feldman
The STC annual conference is one of the very best experiences available to technical editors for developing our skills, our careers, our networks, and our personal growth.
You simply cannot match the value for training that can expand your proficiency, and ideas that can enhance the value of the contributions you make in your work. Add the opportunity to cultivate friendships and to spend three days with others who share your interests and concerns, and you are sure to find the investment worth your while. The conference offers presentations, workshops, and demonstrations on a wide range of topics, including professional development, management, training and research, tools and technology, and usability. The sessions listed below are those of special interest to editors. The conference is scheduled for May 9-12, 2004 in Baltimore. For details, visit the STC website at HYPERLINK “www.stc.org” www.stc.org.
The Editing Workout: Trimming, Toning, and Tweaking (WE 3N)
Monday 2:00–3:30 p.m.
A lighthearted look at the editing process. Learn a series of fixes that concentrate on brevity and simplicity, making sentences shorter and smarter.
Developing a Documentation Quality Tracking System (MG 4E)
Monday 4:00–5:00 p.m
Learn how a group of writers solved various documentation and management challenges by developing its own documentation quality tracking system. Come see the system in action!
Our Favorite Language Bloopers (WE 4F)
Monday 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Take a lighthearted look at signage, menus, packaging, and user interface gaffs from around the world, from the silly to the scintillating to the sublime.
Peer-editing or Editing for the Sole Writer (WE 4N)
Monday 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Do you need to perform peer edits or edit your own work in tight time frames? Learn techniques to improve your editing and proofreading skills.
Fostering Productive Author-Editor Relationships (WE 5W)
Tuesday 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Discuss the process of providing editorial services for clients, including creating an editing plan, negotiating level of edit with authors, conducting author-editor conferences, and other strategies that promote good author-editor collaboration
Developing a Corporate Style Guide (WE 6C)
Tuesday 11:00–12:00 noon
Learn to plan, develop, and implement a style guide within your organization.
Writers and Editors Can Solve Business Problems (PD 7L)
Tuesday 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Technical communicators think of themselves as working in the writing/editing business; instead, we are the pharmacy business, the automaking business, or the XX business. This workshop encourages the practice of mapping business and content profiles using a matrixed approach.
Editing Indexes: Productivity Tips, Tricks, and Techniques (WE 10E)
Wednesday 10:30–12:00 noon
In this workshop you will learn to productively edit technical indexes for printed and online documentation, even if you have a limited amount of time.
Managing the Technical Editing Process: Lessons Learned (WE 11R)
Wednesday 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Bring your ideas and concerns to this interactive discussion of “lessons learned” about how to meet the challenges of managing technical editing processes.
Meet Your Fellow TE SIG Members at the Conference
The STC annual conference is more than an excellent time to attend great workshops and meet your fellow technical communicators. It also offers two special opportunities to communicate your interests and contribute your insights to the Technical Editing SIG. At both the SIG business meeting and the SIG networking luncheon you can meet other SIG members as well as the SIG leadership. We look forward to hearing from you about what you would like the SIG to provide and how we can make your membership in the SIG more valuable. The SIG business meeting will be held on Sunday, May 9th at 3:30 p.m. The SIG networking luncheon is on Tuesday, May 11th. Please try to make room in your conference schedule to attend one or both of these sessions. We look forward to meeting you!
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