Patrick Hoffman, world-renown expert in visual language, especially interface information, gave the STC Keynote address on how visual information design can improve usability of the product and improve the return of investment for you client.
Read MoreThe STC convention was quite an event. I, a novice in the field, was duly impressed by the number of people attending, the energy, the networking, and the whole atmosphere of so many people working in diverse aspects of technical communication.
Read MoreThird event in the series on XML and Content Management with Gershon Joseph - July 5.Part 1: XML Management Part 2: Translating XML content
Read MoreEvents organized by the Yokneam Forum of Technical Writers in 2007
Read MoreTuesday night US/Israeli tax specialist Phil Stein www.pstein.com came out for café talk in Tel Aviv to give us freelance writers a few tips. Stein came to Israel 28 years ago, and since has started a firm which includes 10 people specializing in US tax, Israeli tax and the points where the two systems meet.
Read MoreThe STC Israel Annual General Meeting will be held on March 20, 18:00, at Beit Izzy Shapiro. The meeting is open to all chapter members. The meeting which will include:
In addition, the 2006 Professional Certificates are ready for members. All members attending the AGM will receive their certificates then.
Email ]]
After a very successful first Open Mic in Tel Aviv, with about 30 attendees, the creative energy continued this past Sunday at Coffee Print.
Read MoreIt started off as an ordinary night in Tel Aviv: pleasant night time weather, people walking on the streets with umbrellas under their arms, uncertain of the possibility of another winter storm. Yet all that changed when I walked through the door
Read MoreWhew! Busy days these are so this will be brief. February's Tel Aviv Writer's Cafe held at Meshoogaat Cafe on the 13th was all about blogging and bloggers; Does it help a career? Is it worthwhile?
Veteran blogger Allison Kaplan Sommer of A Sealed Room addressed the group of over 20 attendees on everything from her personal career started at Columbia University and currently including editorial duties at Pajamas Media to the politics of blogging to how her blog has helped get her jobs.
On hand was Allison's personal friend Lisa Goldman of On the Face who also spoke about her trials and tribulations as a blogger - stalkers and political finger pointing in the comments section - and how her blog has helped launch her career and garner speaking appearances and publicity both in Israel and abroad.
Once again, lively and interesting and the numbers just seem to grow and grow.
Next up: Taxes and Filing. March 13th. Leading up to the IRS April 15 filing deadline, U.S./Israel tax expert Phil Stein will field questions on filing do's and don't's for dual U.S./Israel citizens.
Until Then!!!
You can see pictures and download the presentations from the STC event, held at Kodak on January 24, Go to http://www.stc-israel.org.il/Album/Kodak_Jan2007/Index.htm Use the opportunity to browse around the STC site: http://www.stc-israel.org.il/
Despite the wealth of new buzzwords in the technical communications arena (DITA, CMS, XML, to name just a few), many of us are still interested in writing good, consistent content.
Read MoreFor the first time in the history of the STC Israel Technical Communication Competitions, the Award of Distinguished has been given to technical communicators at an Israeli company.
Read MoreBeit Berl is holding several interesting workshops and seminars from March 2007 onwards, for example, Translating Children's Fiction,c reative writing (in English), and a subtitling workshop. Online details on the workshops and seminars... or contact ]]
This month's Tel Aviv Freelance Writers Cafe was animated and information-packed; Rick Teplitz walked us through the framework of pricing and billing projects from tech writing to marketing writing to editing to translation. Follow this link to Rick's presentation outline.
Again, a healthy numbered crowd - nearly 20 - gathered at the Press Cafe and questions posed during the meeting included: Can I ask for half up front? What constitutes a page? When I bill on an hourly basis does that also account for phone time, travel and meetings? Answers: You can but it's uncommon, 250 words, & yes, if you budget it in. Thanks to Rick for a well done, informative evening. If you missed him in Tel Aviv, you might want to check out his pricing presentation at the upcoming Techshoret Conference on January 18th.
Next month: How to Get Your Foot in the Door: Self Marketing for Success. February 13th at 19:00. Details to follow...
In the interim, enjoy the images and please message if you have questions. Thanks again to Svi Ben-Elya for hosting us here on Elephant and for coming all the way from Yokneam!...Stephanie
Jacob & Daniella
Janet, Svi, Tamar (background), Jacob and Daniella
Galia, Ilana, Mark and Rick
Galia, Ilana, Mark, Gayle and Joy
Tel Aviv Freelance Writers Meet
Read MoreThis provocative title indeed generated a lively discussion at the last meeting of the Yokneam Forum of Technical Writers. The meeting, held on November 14th, hosted Udi Efrat, the Corporate Marketing and Marcom manager at Camtek Ltd. Although the majority of participants were technical writers, the marcom writers certainly made their presence felt and everyone contributed to an enjoyable and worthwhile evening.
Read MorePictures from Telecom Israel 2006 Exhibition
Read MoreHi Svi,
My family and I had a great time at the Hazorea pool. Thank you for a great opportunity to meet your family, Dr. Carolyn Tal, and other Technical Writers. What an original and awesome idea to get people together!
Kind regards,Sigalit
==================== Sigalit Hadar-Nachmann Technical Writer ====================
I want to add my praise to the family get together sponsored by the Yokneam forum at the lovely Kibbutz Hazorea swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by beautiful forested hills, giving the feeling of chutz la-aretz in our own backyard.
Carolyn Tal prepared some interesting group activities, adding interaction and a little tension.
Nothing like dipping in the cool pool waters, enjoying a peasent family outing, and combining it all with professional networking and shmoozing.
I highly recommend all technical writers to make the effort to join the fun next summer. Please schedule again at the beginning or end of the summer, when people are before and after holidays.
Bila Sher
Site for Israel's professional tech writing and marcom community. Originally based in what has become Israel's 2nd largest R&D center (Yokneam), Elephant brings together technical and marcom writers from all over Israel. Behind the scenes and between meetings, members stay in contact with job offers and leads, joint projects, and professional assistance.
Using the wrong technical writer is like using a wrench to open a door, it works, but a door knob is better and cheaper. Elephant was started to help match writers and copy editors with companies where their skills match company needs.
