Each month, Spotlights highlights a chapter member through an article about their accomplishments in the field and interesting facts about their life gained through an interview.

This month, we are learning about Simon Abbott! After a lifetime working as a production manager and writer in the film and TV business, he combined his love of writing and computers and added Technical Communicator/Writer to his list of accomplishments. He graduated from the Technical Writing program at BCIT this year and is currently a Content and Proposal Writer for True North Entertainment and writes blog posts for BCIT and our chapter. He is eager to learn more about the opportunities that exist in the field and continue to work on interesting projects. In fact, he just finished a white board video. Check it out on Vimeo using the password RUTF.

 

Me: What most interests you about the field?

Simon: It combines both writing and computers – two of my favourite things.

 

Me: Why did you decide to become a technical communicator?

Simon: I was coming to the end of a successful career in production managing in the film industry which is very gruelling involving 12 to 15 hour days. It takes over your life. Plus, I noticed the industry itself was getting smaller. I wanted to move into a more internet-based industry because the internet world is expanding.

 

Me: What area(s) of technical communication are you most interested in pursuing?

Simon: I keep hearing how video is becoming more and more important in areas of education and promotion on the internet. It even increases your search engine results so I feel it’s a natural fit for me.

 

Me: What do you like most about being an STC CWC member?

Simon: Meeting all the people and talking to them—they all have such a wide variety of specialties and have found some pretty amazing niches for themselves. After that it’s the seminars both live and online. I am learning so much!

 

Me: What do you do when you get “writers block”?

Simon: Having encountered that with writing screenplays, I find it much less of a problem with technical writing. My solution in both cases is to just write a bunch of stuff. It could be just a list, it could be garbage, but if there’s something on the page, you will always find your way.

 

Me: What do you like to do outside of your career?

Simon: I like to spend time with my 12 year old daughter, write stories or screenplays, and play my guitar.

 

Me: Favourite quote?

Simon: Genius is a combination of determination, hard work, and persistence.

None of your thoughts are random—you choose your thoughts so choose wisely.