153. Meeting and Connecting with Technical Communicators

In this episode, Ellis discusses the importance of networking and meeting other technical communicators, especially for those who work solo or in small teams. He explores various avenues for connecting with industry peers, from conferences and meetups to virtual groups and informal gatherings.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Challenges of Solo Technical Communicators
   Many technical writers in the UK work alone or in small teams, limiting opportunities for professional exchange.

2. Conferences & Meetups

   • Ellis mentions conferences like TCUK and Tekom and describes the more casual atmosphere of meetups, such as those organised by ISTC and Write The Docs London.
   • London-based events like ISTC’s monthly gatherings and Write The Docs London meetups, which feature speakers, presentations, and networking sessions.

3. Benefits of Attending Events

4. Navigating Networking for Introverts

   • Tips on starting conversations, showing empathy, and practicing conversational balance to ease networking anxiety.

5. Write The Docs London Event Recap

   • Highlights from recent presentations by Neo4j’s David Oliver on building a documentation team and Mark Woulfe on using dashboards to analyze documentation performance.

6. Alternative Networking Ideas

7. Tips for Speaking at Meetups

8. Final Thoughts

Connect with Ellis Pratt:

• Website: Cherryleaf.com
• Social Media: LinkedIn and other platforms (search "Ellis Pratt")