We had a smaller group than usual this month, possibly because it’s difficult for a Zoom meeting to compete with summer activities, vacation absences, and good weather. However, the conversation ranged more widely than usual, and we took some interesting detours along paths unrelated to technical writing. These included:
- Books and podcasts
- Swing dancing
- Improvisational dance
- The Olympic sport of “breaking” (also known as breakdancing)
- Ferry travel in Vancouver and Toronto
- Toronto’s midtown castle, Casa Loma, built in 1914
- Living in a castle, including the challenges of heating and cleaning it
- A British TV series about renovating castles in France
- The usefulness of an English major vs. education in the trades
Artificial intelligence comes up in almost every conversation with technical communicators these days, and this evening was no exception. Some people find it annoying, riddled with errors, a threat to our livelihood, or a threat to users (for example, if a machine misinterprets a doctor’s words and gives the wrong diagnosis or prescription), but we agreed that it’s here to stay and it can be a wonderful assistant and timesaver if you treat it with healthy skepticism.
One person had been decluttering, browsing through old tech comm journals before recycling or passing them on, and noticed that our colleagues today are talking about many of the same topics others were 30 years ago: contracting vs working in-house, working more efficiently to meet deadlines, dealing with subject matter experts. On the other hand, it’s amusing to see articles debating the pros and cons of then brand-new technology such as word processors, spell checkers, and microcomputers!
The Tech Comm Café provides networking opportunities, job leads, answers to work-related dilemmas, and a burst of professional energy to keep you motivated. We discuss technical writing tools and techniques, career planning, portfolios, and anything else related to working as a technical communicator.
We welcome anyone who’s interested in technical communication — contractor, in-house, student, long-time tech writer, STC member, non-member, career-changer, or recruiter. We hope to see you at the next meeting!
Next Meeting: ONLINE on Wednesday, September 25, 2024
- Subscribe to receive email announcements of future meetings.
- If you plan to attend, RSVP by 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 25, to receive login instructions.
Date: Wednesday, September 25
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Online via Zoom
Agenda
- Introductions. Take 60 seconds to introduce yourself, your background, current activities. A good chance to try out that new elevator speech.
- Announcements and job leads. If you know of an interesting event or a job opening, or you’re looking for work, share it with the group.
- Brainstorming Q&A. Ask about a work-related problem and discuss potential solutions.
- Speed networking. Make new contacts and discuss your professional backgrounds and goals.
Heather Sommerville is a senior technical writer and editor with over 20 years of experience delivering clear, concise writing for business and technical audiences. She is an STC Associate Fellow and has served in many volunteer positions with the STC Canada West Coast chapter.