In this webcast recording, Sarah O’Keefe explores how to develop a content strategy specifically for technical content. That means stepping back from the temptation to focus on tools and instead taking a hard look at what the users need and how best to deliver it. (more…)
Content strategy, theory
Webcast: Content strategy in technical communication
January 20th, 2012 by Sarah O'Keefe
Webcast: The economics of information
November 3rd, 2011 by Sarah O'Keefe
In this webcast recording, Sarah O’Keefe discusses how the cost of developing content affects what is actually created. She leads with a discussion of Gutenberg and how we went from gorgeous, unaffordable, artistic books that took years to produce to more plebeian but affordable books. Then she considers today’s situation, with particular attention to the possibilities of video, information apps, and a look at what has NOT changed.
(more…)
Webcast: Content strategy for software development (with Ray Gallon)
September 29th, 2011 by ScriptoriumTech
Content strategy is usually thought of in the context of web development. But today’s software is increasingly information-rich. Software is a content vector, and we need to manage the life cycle of that content. This webcast from guest speaker Ray Gallon adapts content life cycle management principles, taken from web-oriented content strategy, to software development cycles. Some examples from real experiences illustrate this adaptation.
(more…)
The economics of information
August 2nd, 2011 by Sarah O'Keefe
Originally published in tcworld e-magazine, July 2011
In Europe before the 1450s, books were precious, rare objects and were usually copied by hand over a period of months or years. Johannes Gutenberg and his printing press changed the economics of information distribution.
(more…)
Webcast: The State of Structure, 2011
May 10th, 2011 by ScriptoriumTech
In this webcast, Sarah O’Keefe discusses the results of Scriptorium’s 2011 survey on structured authoring. Topics include adoption rates, tools, implementation costs, lessons learned, and much more.
(more…)
Calculating the ROI of DITA
April 29th, 2011 by Sarah O'Keefe
The Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) provides an XML architecture for technical communication. Although implementing DITA is likely to be faster and easier than building your own XML architecture from the ground up, DITA is not suitable for everyone. (more…)
Webcast: Trends in technical communication, 2011
March 25th, 2011 by Sarah O'Keefe
In this webcast, Nicky Bleiel of ComponentOne and I discuss trends for tech comm in the upcoming year.
Webcast: Calculating the ROI for XML and DITA topic-based authoring
January 10th, 2011 by Sarah O'Keefe
In this webcast, Sarah O’Keefe discusses how to calculate the return on investment of an XML/DITA implementation for technical content.
If you are considering XML and DITA, but are trying to figure out whether you can justify the cost and effort, this session is for you.
(more…)
Webcast: Content strategy analysis for technical communication
November 10th, 2010 by Sarah O'Keefe
In this webcast, Sarah O’Keefe of Scriptorium offers an overview of content strategy analysis with an eye toward the implications and business case for your organization. (more…)
Content strategy for technical communication
October 19th, 2010 by Sarah O'Keefe
Content strategy is about asking the right questions. Instead of starting with outlines or documentation plans, we need to step back, develop a content strategy, and then think about specific deliverables.
(more…)
Anyone can write
October 5th, 2010 by Sarah O'Keefe
published in STC Intercom, September/October 2010
“Anyone can write.” How many times have you heard that tired cliché? And how did it ascend to a cliché? It’s pretty clear to me that most people are terrible writers. When someone says, “Anyone can write,” they actually mean, “Our writing standards are so low that anyone can meet them.”
Webcast: Knowledge integration: The future of technical communication
July 16th, 2010 by ScriptoriumTech
Scriptorium hosts Tristan Bishop of Symantec as he muses on technical communicators’ evolving roles.
Webcast: Trends in technical communication for 2010
May 20th, 2010 by Sarah O'Keefe
Sarah O’Keefe, Ellis Pratt of Cherryleaf, and Tony Self of Hyperwrite
Find out where these three presenters see the industry going. This event is for managers with tech comm responsibility, with or without prior technical writing experience. (more…)
The state of structure in technical communication
May 13th, 2010 by Sarah O'Keefe
In early 2009, Scriptorium Publishing conducted a survey to measure how and why technical communicators are adopting structured authoring.
Of the 616 responses:
- 29 percent of respondents indicated that they had already implemented structured authoring.
- 16 percent indicated that they do not plan to implement structured authoring.
- 14 percent were in the process of implementing structured authoring.
- 20 percent were planning to do so.
- 21 percent were considering it.
This report summarizes our findings on topics including the reasons for implementing structure, the adoption rate for DITA and other standards, and the selection of authoring tools.
Download 
(2 MB, 56 pages)
Discuss this document in our forum
XML: The death of creativity in technical writing?
February 1st, 2010 by Sarah O'Keefe
Originally published in STC Intercom, February 2010
I spend a lot of time giving presentations on XML, structured authoring, and related technologies. The most common negative reaction, varied only in the level of hostility, is “Why are you stifling my creativity?”
Does XML really mean the Death of Creativity for technical communicators? And does creativity even belong in technical content?
XML & lone writers: can they go together?
December 31st, 2009 by Sarah O'Keefe
STC Intercom, December 2009
The relatively low percentage of lone writers who have implemented XML is a logical result of the typical lone writer working environment. Given the current status of the authoring and publishing tools, any lone writer who implements XML will need to master fairly demanding tools and technologies.
Download the PDF 
(204K)
Friend or foe? Web 2.0 in technical communication
December 31st, 2009 by ScriptoriumTech
The rise of Web 2.0 technology provides a platform for user-generated content. Publishing is no longer restricted to a few technical writers—any user can now contribute information. But the information coming from users tends to be highly specific, whereas technical documentation is comprehensive but less specific. The two types of information can coexist and improve the overall user experience.
(more…)
Webcast: Beyond documentation
December 31st, 2009 by ScriptoriumTech
In these challenging economic times, what does the future hold out for technical communicators? What can we do to make sure we forge out a career?
Non-technical individuals will always need something to explain technical things, but as they change the ways in which they get their information, will technical communicators be stuck in the passing lane?
This session looks at the future of technical writing and likely changes to the ways in which user assistance is delivered. Are we moving beyond documents? If so, to what? Importantly, what does this mean for technical communicators?
About Ellis Pratt
Ellis has over ten years experience working on documentation projects and is an accomplished speaker on topics such as the future trends for user assistance, online Help and online communities. He is the author of “Tech Writing 2.0 – The application of Web 2.0 technologies to technical documentation”, “So you want to become a technical author” and “Network to Get Work”.
His philosophy is winning by sharing, connecting people to what they seek, networked businesses and people. The aim is to create a network of business professionals who support one another, learning, networking and trading. He is also an Associate of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Ellis is the co-owner of Cherryleaf Ltd.
Webcast: What do movable type and XML have in common?
December 31st, 2009 by Sarah O'Keefe
The invention of movable type changed the economics of information, making the process of copying a book by hand obsolete. More than 500 years later, XML seems to be doing the same to desktop publishing. But where movable type changed the economics of a mechanical process—creating printed copies—XML changes the economics of content authoring, formatting, and customization.
This webinar takes a look at how publishing technologies revolutionize the way people consume information and how those technologies affect authors.
About Sarah O’Keefe
Sarah O’Keefe, owner of Scriptorium Publishing, specializes in streamlining publishing processes, including implementing DITA, for numerous high-profile clients in telecommunications, defense, technology, and other content-rich industries. Sharing knowledge is a priority for Sarah, who strives to be both entertaining and informative during training sessions and conference presentations.
The State of Structure
December 31st, 2009 by ScriptoriumTech
In early 2009, Scriptorium Publishing conducted a survey to measure how and why technical communicators are adopting structured authoring.
Of the 616 responses:
- 29 percent of respondents indicated that they had already implemented structured authoring.
- 16 percent indicated that they do not plan to implement structured authoring.
- 14 percent were in the process of implementing structured authoring.
- 20 percent were planning to do so.
- 21 percent were considering it.
This report summarizes our findings on topics including the reasons for implementing structure, the adoption rate for DITA and other standards, and the selection of authoring tools.
Download (2 MB, 56 pages)
Discuss this document in our forum
Web 2.0: The tipping point for XML
January 31st, 2009 by Sarah O'Keefe
STC Intercom, January 2009
As the many-to-many communication between blogs, forums, and the like grow in volume, official product information will become just one of the many sources available to readers. Product owners who isolate their official information from the conversation run the risk of not being heard at all.
XML authoring can help to close the documentation gap between official and user-generated content, integrating the two and ensuring their voice is in the mix.
Download the PDF (125 K)
What do movable type and XML have in common?
December 31st, 2008 by Sarah O'Keefe
Originally published in STC Intercom, December 2008
The invention of movable type changed the economics of information, obsoleting the process of copying and illuminating a book by hand. More than 500 years later, XML seems to be doing the same to desktop publishing. XML can automate structure enforcement, formatting, content customization, and many other tasks normally left for authors and production staff to do manually.
Download the PDF (250 K)