The Newsletter for the Southwestern Ontario Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication TheTheThe QuillQuillQuill November 2002 Volume 14 Number 3 www.stc.waterloo.on.ca GoalGoal SettingSetting TTriumphsriumphs overover TimeTime ManagementManagement by Ted Edwins, Chapter President In September, I wrote about how the council had met during the summer Looking for something to keep to set some goals for what we wanted to achieve this year. We tried to you busy during the bleak come up with some strategies that would help us accomplish those goals. winter months? Why not This whole process started me thinking about setting some personal volunteer as The Quill goals. Copyeditor for February and March 2003? One year for Christmas, my brother Tim bought me a Day Runner and This two month, temporary assorted refill pages. Tim, who is a technical specialist installing and volunteer position is a good servicing photo processing machines, is very good at time management. way to get your feet wet and He has his day timer with its multiple page systems and handy cardboard, find out what volunteering is all slip-covered storage box. His job requires him to keep track of mileage, about. expenses, service calls, phone conversations, and God knows what else. Plus, you get to work with an Tim kindly spent a couple of hours on Christmas Day, patiently explaining outstanding committee, and to me how a time management system worked. While I listened to him contribute to a newsletter that reaches many local businesses. define the uses for the different kinds of refill pages, I realized I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about! He was talking a completely What better way to network? different language! What the hell is a “tickler”? Is it the perforated corner If you are interested, or want you rip off the day page? I hated the vocabulary of time management! to know more about this opportuniry, contact Andrea My role as chapter President has required me to consider time Braniff, the editor, at management as a part of the goal setting experience. I must admit that in [email protected]. the past, goal setting has not been a top priority with me. I felt As usual, please send your constricted, tied to a schedule that I knew I never would be able to submissions, suggestions, and complete. I needed a new system that would help me “kick it up a notch”! critisisms to: [email protected]. I’ve read some goal-setting type books in the past but they weren’t very helpful. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to hear the message they delivered. I bought television infomercial huckster Tony Robbins’ book, “Awaken the Giant Within”. His high-octane, American rah-rah style just grated on my nerves. I’m sure the advice is sound but I just couldn’t get past the Contents image of the perfect teeth and hair. Perhaps it was jealousy. Making an Impression ................. 2 A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with Deb Maskens. Over Ask an Expert ................................. 3 coffees at Café Insomnia, I asked how she kept on track and September Board Meeting accomplished the goals she set for herself. Anyone who knows Deb Summary ........................................ 4 knows that she is a focused woman. As she Upcoming General Meetings ....... 6 opened her own calendar and told me what she Online Authoring Tools ................. 7 did, it occurred to me that I’d heard this Volunteering - The STC Way ......... 9 message before. This was Stephen Covey of “7 Taking Help Online ..................... 10 Habits of Highly Successful People” fame. Word Trivia ................................... 13 Continued on page 5 Making an Impression Building your portfolio with Carolyn Watt byby AuthorSue-Anne Schroeder, Member Dotting I’s and Crossing T’s Discard the plastic case. Whatever cover you choose, make covers and inexpensive Punctilious types know that to sure it is classy and of uncompromising “dot the I’s and cross the T’s” is to folders! They have no quality. Your portfolio is part of your be meticulous, to give the most place with your image. Make sure the packaging stands careful attention to detail, or to portfolio. This is just out. finalize the details of an one of the many agreement. They also know this valuable tips that Putting your portfolio together follows the same principles for completing a metaphorical meaning makes Carolyn Watt Carolyn Watt of Carolyn technical writing project. Label every sense, since neither the lower case Watt & Associates Inc. offered at the “I” nor the lower case “T” is sample and include a description of the October workshop hosted by the project, your role, and the special skills considered complete without Contracting and Independent Consulting their respective final marks. you used or developed as a result of the SIG. project. Use originals, especially if they The diacritic dot dates back to are in colour. Don’t hesitate to use or A portfolio is visible proof of the skills the 11th century, when some hire graphic design expertise to and experience that we have described scrupulous scribe first appended enhance the presentation of your work. in cover letters and in our resumes. A the point to distinguish between Give yourself the recognition you portfolio is the anchor of your interview a “U” and two consecutive I’s. deserve. But that’s not the only detail we because it gives you a chance to tell dug up on the dotted “I.” The your story—about the projects you have Carolyn’s advice and the stories she stand-alone phrase “dot the ‘I’” is completed, the companies where you shared were of special interest to another way to say “fill in have worked, the situations you have everyone who attended the workshop. A details”; that is, someone who encountered and the solutions you have senior member of the Toronto chapter of got their message across without provided. the STC, she has been president of the “dotting the ‘I’” did not make an chapter, and has been both an entrant Carolyn discussed how to set up a explicit statement. and a judge in the chapter competitions. portfolio and what to put in it. First, it is She has won both local and Now that we’ve spelled out the important to define your personal style. international awards for her work. At the story on the “dotted I,” we’ll turn Decide how you want to present yourself. local level, Carolyn’s work won Best of our attention to one last detail: Determine what projects you are good at, Show and a special Innovation Award. crossing the T. It’s easy to see what projects you like to do, and what how the lower case “T” is a projects highlight your skills. Include variation on the familiar symbol Carolyn has had prior involvement with samples of these projects in your the Southwestern Ontario chapter. of the cross, but it isn’t quite as portfolio. easy to make the connection Earlier this year, she led us in a chapter goal-setting session. At the Society level, between “crossing the ‘T’” and Next, determine the style of the potential she has been a special Assistant to the military maneuvers. But picture client. Find out if the company’s work President for Professional Development. this: a line of warships passes environment is formal or informal, if the across the bow of the enemy’s company is progressive or conservative, In 1985, Carolyn founded Carolyn Watt line of ships. That not only or if it is an industry leader. Make sure & Associates, a company that produces a “T” but it also results that the company’s environment is a “fit” specializes in helping clients to in the broadsides of the attacking with your personal style and that your communicate clearly and to simplify ships being concentrated on the skills are transferable. Understand your work processes. lead ship of the enemy. client’s project and know what type of work is required to complete the project. Through her presentation and Tailor your portfolio accordingly. personable style, Carolyn clearly demonstrated that by making the most Once you are clear about the contents of of the opportunities and the experiences your portfolio, you can decide how to that come our way - and with a carefully package your work. A portfolio case can constructed portfolio - we can achieve be a three-ring binder, a folder, or an art our professional goals. * /too/ The Quill 14:3 Nov 02 Ask an Expert Current Job Market So, what’s your take on the current job market for writers? Interesting question, especially in light of the conflicting Help Wanted Hidden Meanings information coming at us right now. Despite gloomy predictions “Competitive Salary” - We remain for the near future, Canadian economic indicators show competitive by paying less than strength. We have to face the fact though; it is a tough market, our competitors. here and in the U.S. Jobs that survived the technology bear now “Join Our Fast Paced Company” - face the effects of recession: mergers, layoffs, spending cuts, We have no time to train you. hiring freezes, and more. “Casual Work Atmosphere” - We At a recent User Interface Engineering event in Boston, Jared don’t pay enough to expect that Spool spoke of the chill in the you will dress up. market that our American “Must be Deadline Oriented” - counterparts have endured. If things have stalled with your You will be six months behind And participants at the ACM current employer, take the schedule on your first day. SIGDOC conference (in opportunity to get your house in order.