Video Tutorials¶

Visual learning resources for technical writers. These curated videos cover tools, techniques, and concepts essential to the profession.

Conference Talks¶

Write the Docs Conferences¶

Write the Docs conferences are the premier gatherings for documentarians. All talks are recorded and freely available.

Where to Watch: Write the Docs YouTube Channel

Essential Talks:

Yearly Conference Playlists:

• Write the Docs Portland (May each year)
• Write the Docs Prague (September each year)
• Write the Docs Australia (December each year)

API the Docs¶

Focused specifically on API documentation.

Topics Covered:

• API documentation best practices
• OpenAPI and specifications
• Developer experience
• Documentation tooling

Where to Watch: API the Docs YouTube channel and website

Other Relevant Conferences¶

• STC Summit - Society for Technical Communication annual conference
• DevRelCon - Developer relations including documentation
• Content Strategy conferences - Strategic content perspectives

Tool-Specific Tutorials¶

MkDocs and Material Theme¶

Official Resources:

• MkDocs documentation (text-based, comprehensive)
• Material for MkDocs setup guides

Community Tutorials:

Search YouTube for:

• "MkDocs tutorial for beginners"
• "Material for MkDocs setup"
• "MkDocs GitHub Pages deployment"

Key Topics to Learn:

1. Basic setup and configuration
2. Theme customization
3. Plugin installation
4. Deployment workflows

Git and Version Control¶

Recommended Channels:

• The Coding Train - Visual Git explanations
• Traversy Media - Practical Git workflows
• freeCodeCamp - Comprehensive Git courses

Essential Skills:

• Basic Git commands
• Branching and merging
• Pull request workflows
• Resolving conflicts

Estimated Learning Time: 2-4 hours for fundamentals

Visual Studio Code¶

Official: VS Code YouTube channel

Learn:

• Markdown editing features
• Extensions for technical writing
• Git integration
• Keyboard shortcuts

Markdown¶

Tutorial Recommendations:

• Markdown crash course videos (30-60 minutes)
• Extended markdown syntax tutorials
• Platform-specific markdown features

Skill-Based Learning¶

API Documentation¶

Search Terms:

• "API documentation tutorial"
• "OpenAPI Swagger tutorial"
• "REST API documentation best practices"

Concepts to Cover:

1. Understanding REST APIs
2. Reading API specifications
3. Writing endpoint documentation
4. Creating code examples

UX Writing¶

Recommended Topics:

• "UX writing fundamentals"
• "Microcopy best practices"
• "Writing error messages"
• "UI text guidelines"

Key Channels:

• UX design channels often cover writing
• Content strategy focused channels

Information Architecture¶

Learning Path:

1. IA fundamentals videos
2. Card sorting tutorials
3. Navigation design principles
4. Content organization methods

Content Strategy¶

Topics:

• Content strategy fundamentals
• Content audits and inventories
• Governance and workflow design
• Measuring content success

Course Platforms¶

Free Platforms¶

YouTube

Best for:

• Tool tutorials
• Conference talks
• Quick how-tos

Search tips:

• Add "for technical writers" to searches
• Look for recent uploads (tools change)
• Check view counts for popular content

freeCodeCamp

Best for:

• Technical skill building
• Git and web fundamentals
• Comprehensive courses

Paid Platforms¶

LinkedIn Learning

Courses include:

• Technical Writing: Documentation
• Technical Writing: Reports
• API Documentation
• Various tool courses

Access: Subscription-based, often free through libraries

Pluralsight

Best for:

• Deep technical skills
• Developer-focused content
• Technology platforms

Udemy

Best for:

• Specific skill courses
• Budget-friendly (wait for sales)
• Wide variety of topics

Building a Learning Plan¶

For Beginners¶

Month 1: Foundations

• Watch "What Nobody Tells You About Documentation" (Daniele Procida)
• Complete a Markdown tutorial
• Learn basic Git through video courses

Month 2: Tools

• VS Code setup and workflow tutorials
• One documentation platform tutorial (MkDocs, Docusaurus, etc.)
• Practice building a sample documentation site

Month 3: Skills

• API documentation basics
• Style guide fundamentals
• Write the Docs conference talks

For Intermediate Writers¶

Focus Areas:

• Advanced tooling tutorials
• Specialized topics (API docs, UX writing)
• Leadership and strategy talks

Recommended:

• Deep dive into one specialization
• Conference talk playlists
• Case study presentations

For Specialists¶

API Documentation:

• OpenAPI specification tutorials
• API design talks
• Developer experience content

UX Writing:

• Microcopy deep dives
• Design system documentation
• User research methods

Creating Your Own Videos¶

Screen Recording Basics¶

Tools:

• OBS Studio (free, powerful)
• Camtasia (paid, full-featured)
• Loom (simple, cloud-based)
• QuickTime (Mac, basic)

Tips:

• Use a clear, consistent layout
• Increase font sizes for visibility
• Record in short segments
• Edit out mistakes

Video for Documentation¶

When to Use Video:

• Complex procedures with many steps
• Visual interfaces that are hard to describe
• Onboarding and orientation
• Demonstrations and walkthroughs

Best Practices:

• Keep videos short (2-5 minutes ideal)
• Include captions always
• Provide text alternatives
• Update when UI changes

Building a Tutorial Channel¶

Getting Started:

1. Identify your niche and audience
2. Plan a content series
3. Start with simple equipment
4. Improve based on feedback

Technical Setup:

• Decent microphone (matters most)
• Screen recording software
• Basic editing software
• Consistent branding

Staying Current¶

Following Updates¶

Subscribe to:

• Tool vendor channels
• Write the Docs channel
• Technical writing creators

Watch for:

• New feature announcements
• Best practice updates
• Tool comparisons

Community Recommendations¶

Ask in:

• Write the Docs Slack
• Reddit r/technicalwriting
• LinkedIn groups

For recommendations on:

• Specific skill tutorials
• Tool learning paths
• Conference talk suggestions

Summary¶

Video learning complements text-based resources. Use videos for:

• Tool demonstrations and setup
• Conference talks and ideas
• Visual explanation of concepts
• Staying current with industry

Combine with hands-on practice for best results.