My approach to a writing project

Phase 1 - Basic interviewing skills are very important when developing technical documentation. The Subject Matter Experts (SME) are often the only individuals with real in-depth knowledge of the product. Because of this, it is important to be involved from the beginning of the development phase.

Phase 2 - Consistency in verbiage and style is an important component of an accurate set of technical documentation. This is especially true when the documentation is destined for the end user, where often that "end user" is one that speaks English as a second language.

Phase 3 - On-line documentation, (whether it be in the PDF format, HTML, XML, or for distribution on a CD/DVD) is the eventual goal of most documentation these days. Consequently it is important to design your documentation from the beginning with this end in mind. By knowing the eventual audience and the distribution channels before beginning a project saves you both time and money.

My approach to travel writing

Just do it - Yes, I stole a well known phrase from a large corporation but what it really means is write, write, write and write some more. This is what it is all about when traveling. Write down what you see, when you saw it, how you came about seeing it and how it made you feel. In other words, let the pen flow freely.

Digital age - Today's travel writer would be well advised to come equipped with a good digital camera to help capture the moments. A good camera helps to bring your journal to life and sometimes, the old adage is true, a picture tells a thousand words. And with a good camera comes a laptop to log the miles and download the snappies. You need a place to store those images.

Project Showcase

Client: Computer Sciences Corporation, Inc.
Completed: November, 2001
Location: Oakland, CA

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) purchased TRW Financial Systems, a company where I had worked as a consultant on a number of previous occasions. Among other things, I played an instrumental role in the transition of the company to CSC, developing, managing and maintaining the company intranet during this pivitol period.