Nathan
@nathandriver.bsky.social
Technical Writer on GOV.UK Pay at GDS. Have a very serious Balatro problem.
I got one of these as well the other day!
January 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I got one of these as well the other day!
It's defo personal - I'm self-conscious showing my work even amongst my own team. But it also comes from seeing amazing TWs (@theletterf.bsky.social , @tomjoht.bsky.social ) publicly push the discipline. The feeling I'm always left with is "Oh god, how would I follow THAT?"
January 13, 2025 at 5:59 PM
It's defo personal - I'm self-conscious showing my work even amongst my own team. But it also comes from seeing amazing TWs (@theletterf.bsky.social , @tomjoht.bsky.social ) publicly push the discipline. The feeling I'm always left with is "Oh god, how would I follow THAT?"
Not sure how relatable this problem is, but I don't feel as if anything I do at work is sufficiently innovative/technical/good to warrant a TALK. You give a talk when you've walked on the moon or solved the energy crisis!
January 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Not sure how relatable this problem is, but I don't feel as if anything I do at work is sufficiently innovative/technical/good to warrant a TALK. You give a talk when you've walked on the moon or solved the energy crisis!
This is great! We have a principle of always writing as if this page is the first thing your user has ever read about your product. Never assume they have prior knowledge of the product or wider technical concepts.
That principle achieves the same thing, but the rubber duck is much cuter!
That principle achieves the same thing, but the rubber duck is much cuter!
December 19, 2024 at 11:39 PM
This is great! We have a principle of always writing as if this page is the first thing your user has ever read about your product. Never assume they have prior knowledge of the product or wider technical concepts.
That principle achieves the same thing, but the rubber duck is much cuter!
That principle achieves the same thing, but the rubber duck is much cuter!
Yes! We ended up adding 'simple' to the 'words to avoid' section of our style guide - www.gov.uk/guidance/sty...
Style guide - Technical content A to Z - Guidance - GOV.UK
GOV.UK
The technical content style guide covers the style, structure and terms you should use when writing content for technical users on GOV.UK.
www.gov.uk
December 18, 2024 at 7:15 PM
Yes! We ended up adding 'simple' to the 'words to avoid' section of our style guide - www.gov.uk/guidance/sty...
It's also not a one way street. I've found a lot of value in 'scaffolding' feedback with (some) SMEs. When I'm first working with them, I'll explain how I generally like to receive feedback - format, tone, level of detail, and so on.
It's not for everyone, but I've found it valuable with some SMEs.
It's not for everyone, but I've found it valuable with some SMEs.
December 18, 2024 at 2:32 PM
It's also not a one way street. I've found a lot of value in 'scaffolding' feedback with (some) SMEs. When I'm first working with them, I'll explain how I generally like to receive feedback - format, tone, level of detail, and so on.
It's not for everyone, but I've found it valuable with some SMEs.
It's not for everyone, but I've found it valuable with some SMEs.
I saved this last week and am just getting to reading it now.
Heavy agree on all of it, especially open ended questions. I think there's a balance to be found there. I've definitely been too open ended and ended up with a lot of less-than-relevant detail, which can be overwhelming.
Heavy agree on all of it, especially open ended questions. I think there's a balance to be found there. I've definitely been too open ended and ended up with a lot of less-than-relevant detail, which can be overwhelming.
December 18, 2024 at 2:30 PM
I saved this last week and am just getting to reading it now.
Heavy agree on all of it, especially open ended questions. I think there's a balance to be found there. I've definitely been too open ended and ended up with a lot of less-than-relevant detail, which can be overwhelming.
Heavy agree on all of it, especially open ended questions. I think there's a balance to be found there. I've definitely been too open ended and ended up with a lot of less-than-relevant detail, which can be overwhelming.
As an aside, it also made me feel good about working in the public sector. It's nice to only have to think 'How do I make this better?', rather than 'How do I make the pips squeak?'
December 18, 2024 at 2:21 PM
As an aside, it also made me feel good about working in the public sector. It's nice to only have to think 'How do I make this better?', rather than 'How do I make the pips squeak?'
I'm interested in the API animation you mentioned! I have to produce some animations for some concepts in our API next year and I'm struggling to figure out the best way to represent everything.
December 12, 2024 at 9:40 PM
I'm interested in the API animation you mentioned! I have to produce some animations for some concepts in our API next year and I'm struggling to figure out the best way to represent everything.
Just upgraded. MinnMax is the best!
November 28, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Just upgraded. MinnMax is the best!
Oooh! Is this just for new subscribers? Or could I upgrade a tier and also get a code?
November 28, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Oooh! Is this just for new subscribers? Or could I upgrade a tier and also get a code?
I think it was seeing you on mutual connections' LinkedIn posts, searching 'content designer' on here, then the name ringing a bell.
November 21, 2024 at 5:27 PM
I think it was seeing you on mutual connections' LinkedIn posts, searching 'content designer' on here, then the name ringing a bell.
Reading aloud is so true for anything you ever write, ever. When I used to teach, I'd send my students home with a dictaphone to record themselves or their family reading their essays.
Does it sound like a human being wrote this? If not, figure out why and redraft!
Does it sound like a human being wrote this? If not, figure out why and redraft!
November 20, 2024 at 9:47 AM
Reading aloud is so true for anything you ever write, ever. When I used to teach, I'd send my students home with a dictaphone to record themselves or their family reading their essays.
Does it sound like a human being wrote this? If not, figure out why and redraft!
Does it sound like a human being wrote this? If not, figure out why and redraft!
I know this is an old post, but it popped up in a search so thought I'd chip in. Anything Tom Johnson says on idratherbewriting.com is worth listening to. Depending on your existing familiarity, his API doc course is also an incredible introduction to API docs and APIs in general.
I’d Rather Be Writing blog
Stay updated with best practices for technical writers. Includes an API documentation course for technical writers and engineers learning how to document APIs. The course includes sections on what an ...
idratherbewriting.com
November 19, 2024 at 10:13 PM
I know this is an old post, but it popped up in a search so thought I'd chip in. Anything Tom Johnson says on idratherbewriting.com is worth listening to. Depending on your existing familiarity, his API doc course is also an incredible introduction to API docs and APIs in general.
This is such a great episode. Always love a Talking Politics reunion episode with Helen.
November 15, 2024 at 9:10 AM
This is such a great episode. Always love a Talking Politics reunion episode with Helen.