Resources

This is a page of resources for my lectures and webinars. You can download copies of presentation handouts, additional articles, and get links to additional free training.

Presentation materials

"Choosing the Right Software Package" presentation handout: Download the PDF here

"Planning Topic-Based Authoring" presentation slides and reading list: Download the PDF here

"Planning Topic-Based Authoring" sample topic spreadsheet: Download the PDF here

"Captive vs. Freelance" presentation handout: Download the PDF here

"Pre-emptive Project Planning" presentation handout: Download the PDF here

"Pre-Emptive Project Planning" spreadsheets: Download the spreadsheets here

"Seeding the Clouds" presentation slides: Download the PDF here

Articles

What to Do When You're Running Out of Money Download the article here

Publishing a Book about Your Company's Products Download the article here

Information about how to become an author, including an understanding of the general process, creating book proposals, and many other topics, can be found at my blog Hey, Kids! Become an Author at Home in Your Spare Time and Earn Big Bucks!

Recommended reading

The following books are essential resources for any technical communicator.

  • The Secrets of Consulting by Gerald M. Weinberg
  • Peopleware (2nd ed.) by Tom DeMarco and Tim Lister
  • A Whack on the Side of the Head by Dr. Roger von Oech
  • Clutter's Last Stand by Don Aslett
  • The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
  • The Time Trap by Alex Mackenzie
  • Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman
There's an article with detailed information at http://tradebookauthor.com.

Free webinars 

Many companies offer free webinars on topics that are tools-independent. Author-it, for example, regularly schedules webinars on a variety of topics of interest to technical communicators. For information on this, click here. Many companies will also offer free seminars on their tools that will give you a good introduction to various tools and how to use them. (Adobe is particularly good at doing this, as are several other tools manufacturers.)

John Hedtke and JVH Communications
Email me at john@hedtke.com
Copyright © 1999-2011 by John Hedtke.
All rights reserved.