Competitions 2003-2004

Attention All Technical Writers and Artists:

Would You Like to Be Recognized for Your Good Work and Get Helpful Feedback From Your Peers?

By Mark Decker

The Boston and Northern New England chapters of the Society for Technical Communications (STC) are now planning for this year's annual competitions for technical writers, Help authors, and technical artists. That means it is time for you to start thinking about what project you want to enter in the 2003 competition. Print projects are due in the late summer, while Help and art projects are due in the early fall.

Competition categories include:

• Printed documentation
• Online Help
• Web Help
• Technical marketing material
• Technical art

Your peers judge the entries, and all entrants receive detailed feedback about their project from judges who are experienced in technical writing and art. Some entries earn an award from the STC, which represent levels of accomplishment based on STC standards. Three levels of awards are given, as follows:

• Merit — Consistently meets high standards in most areas. There may be a number of major or minor flaws, but the entry still exemplifies proficient technical communication.
• Excellence — Consistently meets high standards in all areas. There may be a single major flaw and a few minor flaws. The entry clearly, though slightly imperfectly, exemplifies an exceptional understanding of technical communication principles.
• Distinguished — Clearly superior in all areas. There are no major flaws, and few, if any, minor flaws. It is an outstanding example of technical communication principles.

Those entries that receive a distinguished award are automatically entered into the STC International Competition and compete with entries from around the world. Imagine receiving feedback from your peers from around the world.

You do not have to be a member of the STC to enter this competition, and you can submit more than one entry. Specific dates will be announced later this year.

For more information about the competition, entry forms, or contacts, please visit the Competitions page. If you need more information than is offered on the Web site, then send e-mail to stc_comp@yahoo.com.

Mark Decker is a Senior Technical Writer from Nashua and is a member of the Northern New England chapter of the STC. Mark is a member of the Online Help Competition Committee. He currently works as a contractor for Agile Enterprise in Nashua.