Charity Dominic, Sr. Technical Writer

techwritercdominic@yahoo.com
Home: 760 798 2756 . Mobile 760 685 3611

Summary: Fast, adaptive writer; broad, intensive start-up experience in building documentation for a wide range of users, from highly technical engineers to new end-users. Documents software and hardware "by osmosis": using products, informational interviewing, and interpreting raw source code and technical diagrams.

Recent deliverables include:

  • online help
  • SDK and API documentation, programming guides, specifications, application notes
  • test kits, datasheets, white papers, release notes
  • end-user and installation guides

Seeking greater challenges in help authoring, programming, information design, structured authoring, single-sourcing, usability testing, and localizing documentation. Prefer collaborative environment.

Software Skills

Print:
Adobe Acrobat (Pro) & FrameMaker (7-8), MS Word, Open/neoOffice
Web:
WebWorks ePublisher, Adobe RoboHelp, Madcap Flare, Dreamweaver, HTMLKit, Nvu
Programming:
FrameScript, Visual Basic & Studio, C++ & Delphi, LANSA, command-line
Version Control:
Visual SourceSafe, SubVersion, CVS, Perforce
Graphics:
Adobe Captivate & Photoshop, SnagIt, Microsoft Visio
Communication:
Scrum/Agile Development, Microsoft Sharepoint/Project, wiki, Lotus Notes, Basecamp, Campfire, BackPack

Experience

Sr. Technical Writer | Quest Software (formerly Akonix)

August 2007 — Present

Build PDFs and help for frequent product releases, coordinating with QA, Release Management, Web Development, and IT. Re-tooled massive legacy document project:

  • Cleaned Source Docs: Consolidated and reorganized 500 Framemaker files, 11 books, 2,183 graphics, 2 online help systems, and 12 PDFs. Cleaned/debugged books, templates, help projects, and cross-references. Parsed PDF-centric documents into topic/DITA-oriented text insets. Mapped interdependencies and redundancies. Standardized graphics.

  • Established documentation version control (Perforce).
  • Upgraded from Framemaker 7.2 to 8.0, added Framescripts to streamline and automate documentation tasks. Consolidated 32 variables and 27 conditional settings into 1 template. Created new help projects and templates.
  • Enhanced Usability: Reduced 5 overlapping PDFs to 1 standalone compiled help (CHM). Simplified WebHelp topics, eliminated scrolling.
  • Developed internal spec template (SharePoint) for engineers.

Sr. Technical Writer | DivX Inc.

October 2004 — July 2007 (2 years 10 months)

Established the Technical Publications department. Consistently met deadlines and expectations with little software, process, or planning. Built print documentation, converted to single-sourced online help.

  • Used Microsoft Word (Master books), wiki, shareware, and freeware to build HTML help documentation from scratch (and then converted to RoboHelp); used same source to generate printed PDFs.
  • Created company's first-ever formal technical documentation, mostly “from scratch” and always during development with input from SMEs: online help, white papers, application notes, functional specifications, test kits, SDK and API documentation, release notes.
  • Established documentation and departmental wikis, stylesheets (CSS), templates and style guide. Selected documentation software. Defined job descriptions.
  • Converted documentation from print-only to a single-sourced environment (so one source can be used to deliver multiple outputs: online help, PDFs, printed guides, wikis, etc.).
  • Localized help projects, worked with translation companies.

Writing Director | Seasilver, Inc.

September 2003 - August 2004; company closed

Joined this nutritional supplement company in order to ensure FTC/FDA compliance in documentation. Wrote and edited copy for online and print, press releases, presentations, and corporate and technical documents. Worked with attorneys for text approval.

Sr. Technical Writer | Artisan Components

October 2002 - September 2003; left to broaden software skills

  • Joined this high-end semiconductor/engineering company (formerly Nurlogic) as their primary technical writer. Revamped documentation process: improved quality, established schedules and processes to overcome legacy backlog and adjust to constantly changing schedule.
  • Built documentation in FrameMaker, MS Word, and Visio. Ensured quick turnaround for datasheets, application notes, test reports, and white papers. Interpreted raw data, engineering schematics and analog, verilog, and digital designs. Created product brochures i(Adobe Photoshop) for technical audiences.

Sr. Technical Writer | MTS Technologies

December 2001 - October 2002; left to broaden software skills

Joined this military subcontractor to implement more advanced, scaleable documentation software.

  • Designed first-ever FrameMaker templates and wrote end-user documentation for medical epidemiology software (Java-based GUI). Worked on-site at SPAWAR (Department of Defense). Familiar with military subcontracting, high-security projects, and working with high-ranking personnel.

Lead Technical Writer | Alltel

August 1997 - September 2001; left to avoid career burnout

Joined this banking software company (was ACBS) to provide all documentation and develop team

  • Translated specs and code into meaningful user manuals, release notes, programming guides, and white papers for technical and business readers.
  • Promoted to lead writer. Started internship program. Converted extensive user manuals to online help (RoboHelp). Established first style guide and FrameMaker templates.
  • Supported company merger (with Alltel); documented procedures, mentored new writers.

English Instructor | CSU San Marcos

August 1996 - August 1999; left to pursue career

Taught freshman classes in literary analysis and English composition.

Ghostwriter/Lead Editor | Sunfeatures, Inc.

June 1995 - August 1997; left to complete MA

Researched and ghostwrote 3 books in the “...For Dummies” series, learning to apply the style and voice of an accomplished, syndicated columnist. Worked closely with publisher, IDG Worldwide.

Education

CSU San Marcos | MA and BA, Literary Theory

September 1995 - October 2000 ; Honor Student; 4.0 GPA; graduated cum laude. Skipped high school and began college at age 12; financed education by working full-time.

Memberships and Activities

  • Society for Technical Communications, active member