The Benefits of a Standardized Process While it may seem easier to the individual to use a personalized process in the work place, using a standardized (and well thought out) process saves a company time and money in the long run and makes it easier for team members to seamlessly move between projects. […]
Quarterly Profile: Chelsea Larsen At J. Wilson and Associates, Inc. we take a lot of pride in the diversity of experiences and skill sets that make up our highly successful team. This quarter we’re highlighting Technical Editor, and W&A Legal Counsel, Chelsea Larsen: Chelsea began her career working in education where she had […]
Details, Details… Why Attention to Detail is a Vital Skill By: Laura Kilgore One slip of the finger and a significant word is misspelled. One forgotten step in a project, one skip of the eyes over a word in an email, and I’m left embarrassed and feeling the need to prove my competency. We’ve […]
What do Technical Writers Do? By Laura Kilgore Technical writing, contrary to popular assumption, is not a one-dimensional role. When I first became a Technical Writer, I pictured myself poring over hard-copy documents, red pen in hand, making good use of the secret hieroglyphics of Editors that I had learned so proudly in […]
Where the Magic Happens By: Bonnie Bryan Denham As a Technical Editor that’s spent 4 years in the aerospace industry and 11 years in the oil and gas industry, a popular phrase I’ve gotten used to hearing is, “Work your magic.” This “magic” (mostly white magic, but sometimes involving a little black magic when […]
First Principles By: John Wilson One of the benefits of being old, and I am, is that you can “remember when.” As in when stuff happened. It helps with that thing called perspective. I can look back and see how the landscape has changed, and think about what I might or should have […]
Say What You Mean By: John Wilson Several years ago I moved to the Hill Country. I drove back and forth to Houston to work. Coming in on Monday, going home on Friday. The drive in to town was always timed for an early evening arrival where dinner would be eaten when I got […]
Building Document Author / Technical Editor Relationships By: Laura Kilgore Since starting my current position as a Technical Editor three years ago, members of our team have done two different personality assessments, which we then shared amongst ourselves. Each time, however, I have been reluctant to participate, as I balk at the idea […]
Lifting the Veil By: John W. Wilson One evening early in my career, I was at a trade show and found myself beside a hotel pool, talking to a drilling engineer about his work. I knew I was in an industry where people were dealing with big, complicated equipment, doing seemingly impossible […]
In Search of the Learning Life By: John W. Wilson I came to the oil business thanks to rock and roll. Fresh out of the Navy, after an earlier stint in college ended poorly, I was back in the saddle and in school courtesy of the GI Bill. Needing a little extra cash to […]