Community Resources¶

The technical writing community is welcoming, supportive, and eager to help. Here's how to connect and contribute.

Primary Communities¶

Write the Docs¶

The central hub for technical writers and documentarians.

Slack Workspace

• 15,000+ members worldwide
• Active daily discussions
• Channels for every topic
• Supportive, welcoming culture

How to Join: Visit writethedocs.org/slack

Key Channels:

Etiquette:

• Search before asking common questions
• Stay on topic in specialized channels
• Be respectful and inclusive
• Share your knowledge generously

Society for Technical Communication (STC)¶

The established professional organization for technical communicators.

What It Offers:

• Local chapters worldwide
• Annual Summit conference
• Publications (Intercom, Technical Communication journal)
• Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
• Certification program (CPTC)

Best For:

• Networking in your area
• Professional credentials
• Academic and research perspectives

Website: stc.org

Reddit Communities¶

r/technicalwriting

• Questions and discussions
• Career advice
• Tool recommendations
• Industry perspectives

r/technicalcommunication

• Broader technical communication topics

r/programming and related

• Technical context and developer perspectives

Online Platforms¶

LinkedIn¶

Groups to Join:

• Technical Writers
• Technical Writing Professionals
• API Documentation
• Content Strategy

Best Practices:

• Engage with content, don't just observe
• Share valuable articles and insights
• Connect with purpose, not just numbers
• Build genuine relationships

Twitter/X¶

Hashtags:

• TechnicalWriting¶

• DocsAsCode¶

• APIDocumentation¶

• TechComm¶

• UXWriting¶

Who to Follow:

• Documentation team accounts
• Industry thought leaders
• Tool developers
• Conference accounts

Discord¶

Growing presence for technical writers:

• Write the Docs community server
• Developer community servers with doc channels
• Tool-specific communities

Mastodon and Fediverse¶

Technical writing presence is growing on decentralized social media. Search for relevant hashtags and communities.

Local Communities¶

Finding Local Groups¶

Meetup.com:

• Write the Docs meetups
• STC chapter meetings
• Tech meetups (often include doc topics)

STC Chapters:

• Find your local chapter through stc.org
• Attend meetings and events
• Volunteer for leadership

Tech Community Events:

• Developer meetups
• API and integration groups
• DevOps and platform meetups

Benefits of Local Connection¶

• Face-to-face relationships
• Local job opportunities
• Speaking and presentation practice
• Mentorship connections

Conferences¶

Write the Docs Conferences¶

Annual Events:

What to Expect:

• Single track of talks (no parallel sessions)
• Writing Day (contribute to open source docs)
• Unconference sessions
• Networking opportunities
• Welcoming, inclusive atmosphere

Why Attend:

• Learn from practitioners
• Connect with community
• Discover new ideas
• Get inspired

Other Relevant Conferences¶

• STC Summit - Annual technical communication conference
• API the Docs - API documentation focused
• DevRelCon - Developer relations including docs
• Confab - Content strategy
• Information Development World - Enterprise documentation

Getting Involved¶

As a Newcomer¶

First Steps:

1. Join Write the Docs Slack
2. Introduce yourself in #introductions
3. Read and observe before posting
4. Ask questions (search first)
5. Help when you can

Building Presence:

• Participate regularly
• Share your experiences and learnings
• Ask thoughtful questions
• Be genuine and helpful

Deeper Involvement¶

Contribute:

• Help answer questions
• Share resources and articles
• Participate in discussions
• Mentor newcomers

Volunteer:

• Help organize meetups
• Contribute to Write the Docs website
• Volunteer at conferences
• Lead discussions or presentations

Speak:

• Present at local meetups
• Propose conference talks
• Share your expertise

Giving Back¶

As you grow, help others:

• Answer questions from newer writers
• Share your experiences and lessons
• Mentor those starting out
• Contribute to community resources

Community Etiquette¶

Do¶

• Be respectful and inclusive
• Search before asking common questions
• Give credit for ideas and resources
• Help others generously
• Assume good intent
• Keep discussions constructive

Don't¶

• Spam or over-promote
• Be dismissive of questions
• Gatekeep or act superior
• Share confidential information
• Argue unproductively
• Forget that everyone started somewhere

Building Your Network¶

Strategic Networking¶

Short-term:

• Join key communities
• Participate regularly
• Build initial connections
• Learn community norms

Medium-term:

• Develop deeper relationships
• Find mentors
• Contribute your expertise
• Attend events

Long-term:

• Become known in community
• Help develop others
• Give back meaningfully
• Build lasting friendships

Maintaining Connections¶

• Stay active in communities
• Follow up with people you meet
• Share useful information
• Celebrate others' successes
• Help when you can

Resources¶

Newsletters¶

• Write the Docs Newsletter - Monthly community updates
• Technical writing newsletters - Various individual publications

Podcasts¶

• Write the Docs Podcast - Community discussions
• Content strategy podcasts - Strategic perspectives
• Developer experience podcasts - Related topics

Blogs¶

• I'd Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson
• Every Page is Page One - Mark Baker
• Community member blogs - Various

Summary¶

Community provides invaluable support for your career:

1. Join Write the Docs Slack - The essential starting point
2. Participate actively - Give and receive value
3. Attend events - Meet people in person
4. Build relationships - Quality over quantity
5. Give back - Help others as you grow

Your community becomes your professional family.