A powerful way to provide tutorials, reference guides, policies and procedures, and similar documentation is with online or web-based help. Online help can stand alone or display from within your software program or website. It can include graphics, video, animation, and more. In software, it can also include context-sensitive help.
This is one of my favorite “genres” in which to work. Why? Because I love the challenge of organizing information so that users can find exactly what they need quickly and easily.
Similar to websites, one has to take advantage of this non-linear medium and design and write accordingly. This means writing in a consistent, highly modular fashion and taking into consideration that a user can reach a topic from more than one place: the table of contents, a search, the index, or another topic.
I have designed and written award-winning online help for numerous clients, particularly in the software and high-tech fields. I am particularly adept at understanding the target audience and writing “to” him (not above or below him), and being able to transform complex ideas into easily digestible language. (Also see Technical Writing.)
For information on my work process, see Services.
Work Examples
Projects include those for Broderbund software, DROBO, Gridstore, Warner Bros., Los Angeles County, NovaQuest Infosystems, and many others.
