#technical writing,

[prokopetz]

Not to be a technical writer on main, but I've been bumping into the idea lately that the only reason explaining yourself in more detail never seems to work is because neurotypical people are misunderstanding you on purpose, or because they have short attention spans, or because they just hate listening to you talk – and sure, occasionally that's even true, but most of the time the problem you're running into is more fundamental.

Every time you add more detail, you're running the risk of tripping over a bad assumption on your part about the listener's prior knowledge, or hitting the tipping point where they become overwhelmed with new information (and remember that you don't know which parts of what you're saying will be new information for them), or making a leap of logic that isn't as self-evident as you think it is, or any of a dozen other potential snags which, by definition, you will not see coming until it's too late to correct course.

Basically, every piece of information you add multiplies the odds of you getting blindsided by some vector of misunderstanding you didn't anticipate, even as it addresses the ones you did anticipate. The point of diminishing returns where continuing to elaborate increases the odds of unexpected miscommunication more than it decreases the odds of expected miscommunication is much nearer than you'd like.

The most effective act of communication is not the one which contains the most possible information, but the one which contains the smallest amount of information it possibly can while still getting its point across. It sucks, but it's the reality of the situation. People far more autistic than you have been trying for hundreds of years to invent a way of communicating which doesn't work this way, without success.

All of which is to say that "getting to the damn point" is legitimately a communication skill, not just an accommodation for people who aren't paying attention. If it's any consolation, it's something neurotypical people struggle with just as much as anyone else – if it was easy, technical writers wouldn't have jobs!

[kidmanversed]

An education alone doesn’t make someone a writer. You know what does? Imagination and creativity. A professor can teach the rules and techniques of writing, but they can’t teach someone how to be a writer.

Keep being creative.

Keep imagining.

Keep writing.

[lxcke]

Art Portfolio: @lxcke-art Keep the lights on: Donate with Ko-Fi

Prices may increase depending on how huge the project is. Baseline price is non-negotiable. We will reasonably discuss before I charge anything!

I'm professional, but friendly! Don't be scared to get in touch. My communication style can change to suit your needs. If you need someone energetic and leadership-friendly, I got you! If you need a mellow study guide, I can do that too. I also know how to communicate with people who have disabilities or language barriers.

If you can't afford my services, please share this around. Bills are getting crazy for me lately. Thanks guys!

[writing-with-sophia]

Storytelling Techniques

A good storytelling method is essential for writing good fiction. There are many storytelling techniques that can be used to create engaging and memorable stories. Here are some common techniques you can use in your stories:

Use sensory details: Including sensory details in your story can help your audience imagine the scene and get emotionally invested in the story. For example, you can describe the colors, sounds, and smells of a place or event.

Build tension and suspense: Tension and suspense are important for keeping your audience engaged and invested in your story. You can create tension by introducing a conflict or challenge that the characters must overcome.

Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing is a technique used to hint at future events in the story. This can create anticipation and keep your audience engaged.

Use pacing effectively: Pacing refers to the speed at which the story unfolds. Make sure to vary the pacing to keep your audience engaged. For example, you can slow down the pacing during emotional or reflective moments, and speed it up during action scenes.

Show, don't tell: Instead of simply telling your audience what is happening in the story, show them through vivid descriptions and actions. This can help your audience feel more immersed in the story.

Use metaphor and simile: Metaphors and similes can help create vivid descriptions and comparisons in your story. They can also help to convey complex ideas in a more accessible way.

Flashbacks and flash-forwards: Flashbacks and flash-forwards can help provide context for the story and create tension. Make sure to use them sparingly and at appropriate moments in the story.

Use humor: Humor can be a powerful tool for engaging your audience and making your story more memorable. Just make sure that the humor is appropriate for the tone and subject matter of your story.

Suspenseful chapter endings: Ending chapters on a suspenseful note can help keep your audience engaged and eager to read on.

By using these techniques and others, you can create a compelling and memorable story that will engage and entertain your audience.

If you want to read more posts about writing, please click here and give me a follow!

[dzee-szed]

You're at a gaming convention. There's four staffers at a booth giving demos of a new game. They all kinda suck at giving demos. Which of these staffers would you rather learn from?

Spends most of the demo describing how people won their last ten rounds

Spends most of the demo reading straight from the rulebook / fanwiki

Spends most of the demo telling you to try strategies they've never seen before

Tells you to just start playing, doesn't explain anything until you try to do it

Voting ended onApr 17, 2024

I'm doing grad student work in technical writing. I'm writing an essay about adjusting user manuals to match the reader's preferences.

Please share this poll around! This is secretly a poll about Kolb's Learning Styles. I've never seen a poll about Kolb's styles before, and I'm trying to see if there's an actual preference here.

[itsfortheplants]

if you think researching Edwardian-era sexual norms for a twilight fanfic is extreme wait til you hear about the time I had to write about species de-extinction and couldn’t tell anyone for 2 years

[dblldzr]

they will never make me regret my english degree

[mathkeyboard]

The Math Keyboard Normal Keyboards Forgot

Typing math on a computer still feels strangely slow.

If you need a Greek letter, an integral sign, a square root, or a scientific symbol, you often have to stop writing and look for it somewhere else.

Symbol menus. Old documents. Search results. Equation editors for something that was not really a full equation.

That was the frustration behind Nitrax Mathematical Keyboard.

It is a compact physical keyboard for mathematical, Greek, and scientific symbols. The symbols are printed directly on the keys, with blue and gray printed layers typed through key combinations.

It is not a virtual keyboard, not a calculator, and not a generic keypad.

The goal is simple: everyday math typing.

Notes. Homework. Lab reports. Slides. Technical explanations. Any document where you need the symbol now and want to keep writing.

On Windows, the companion app uses AutoHotkey to send Unicode characters into the active application when Math Mode is enabled.

More here: https://mathematicalkeyboard.com/

If you had a physical keyboard for math symbols, which symbol would need to be easiest to type?