The Not-Boring Tech Writer

By Kate Mueller

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Subscribers: 8
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Episodes: 67

Description

Some people hear the phrase "technical writing" and think it must be boring. We're here to show the full complexity and awesomeness of being a tech writer. This podcast is for anyone who writes technical documentation of any kind, including those who may not feel comfortable calling themselves tech writers. Whether you create product documentation, support documentation, READMEs, or any other technical content—and whether you deal with imposter syndrome, lack formal training, or find yourself somewhere in the gray area between technical communications and general writing—there's a place for you here. Each month, we publish two episodes: an interview with an amazing guest focusing on useful skills or tools that can help you improve your tech writing skills, and a behind-the-scenes solo episode with host Kate Mueller about what she’s working on, struggling with, or thinking about in her daily tech writing life. The Not-Boring Tech Writer is generously sponsored by KnowledgeOwl, knowledge base software built for people who care, by people who care.

Episode Date
Kate sounds off on 2025
Dec 11, 2025
Self-documentation for career growth with Kate Pond
Nov 27, 2025
Kate sounds off on small things and repairs
Nov 13, 2025
Humor and visuals in technical writing with Dennis Dawson
Oct 30, 2025
Kate sounds off on beliefs and maintenance work
Oct 16, 2025
Growing as a technical writer in the AI era with Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti
Oct 02, 2025
Kate sounds off on docs as an act of service
Sep 18, 2025
Yoga wisdom for technical writers with Sarah Walker
Sep 04, 2025
Kate sounds off on cognitive capital and learning
Aug 21, 2025
Empathy advocacy: Designing docs for all emotional states with Ryan Macklin
Aug 07, 2025
Kate sounds off on “good” documentation
Jul 24, 2025
Docs as Tests: Keeping documentation resilient to product changes with Manny Silva
Jul 10, 2025
Connecting permaculture and documentation with Liz Argall
Jun 26, 2025
Documentation as a creative endeavor with Nick Graziade
Jun 12, 2025
Kate sounds off on Write the Docs
May 29, 2025
How to get hired as a tech writer with Sue Brandt
May 15, 2025
Kate sounds off on knowledge sharing and docs stewardship
May 01, 2025
The craft of technical writing with Marcia Riefer Johnston
Apr 17, 2025
Kate sounds off on mice and iterating
Apr 03, 2025
We’re all responsible for content accessibility with Kenzie Woodbridge
Mar 20, 2025
Kate sounds off on docs hierarchy of needs and how we talk to ourselves
Mar 06, 2025
Bridging the gap from “not technical enough” to “technical” with Janine Chan
Feb 20, 2025
Kate sounds off on content types
Feb 06, 2025
Developer collaboration with Lorna Mitchell
Jan 23, 2025
Introducing The Not-Boring Tech Writer Reboot
Jan 09, 2025
Tech Writer Advocacy and Managing Write the Docs with Swapnil Ogale
Jun 14, 2021
Documentarians for Diplomacy: Bringing the Mirth with Kat Stoica Ostenfeld
May 07, 2021
Marrying skillsets and existential googling with Caity Cronkhite
Mar 19, 2021
How to Infiltrate a Hackathon in Iowa with Philip Kiely
Feb 16, 2021
A Fond Farewell (Yet Warm Welcome!)
Jan 03, 2021
Skill #36: Creating Usability Tests for Your Organization
Nov 03, 2020
Skill #35: Understanding Basic Design Principles
Sep 30, 2020
Skill #34: Crowdsourcing Technical Communication
Feb 27, 2020
Skill #33: Getting Started with Open Data
Feb 10, 2020
Skill #32: Understanding Translation and Localization
Jan 26, 2020
Skill #31: Choosing the Right Knowledge Base Software for Your Organization
Jan 20, 2020
Skill #30: Landing a Tech Writing Internship
Nov 30, 2019
Skill #29: Understanding Your Reader (as a Whole)
Nov 18, 2019
Skill #28: Researching as a Tech Writer
Oct 31, 2019
Skill #27: Contributing to GitHub
Oct 24, 2019
Skill #26: Getting Started in API Documentation
Oct 01, 2019
Skill #25: Nudging Users to Action Through Contextual Help
Sep 24, 2019
Skill #24: Finding Your Content DNA
Sep 17, 2019
Skill #23: Transitioning into Tech Writing from Very-Much-Not Tech Writing
Aug 30, 2019
Skill #22: Using Your Detective Skills as a Technical Writer
Aug 26, 2019
Skill #21: Mentoring Prospective Tech Writers
Aug 19, 2019
Skill #20: Understanding Content Marketing
Aug 12, 2019
Skill #19: Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
Jul 29, 2019
Skill #18: Embracing the Long Game of Technical Writing
Jul 22, 2019
Skill #17: Branding Your Work
May 30, 2019
Skill #16: Using Cognitive Science to Make Your Technical Writing More Interesting
Mar 30, 2019
Skill #15: Transitioning into Instructional Design
Mar 24, 2019
Skill #14: Contributing to Open Source Projects
Feb 28, 2019
Skill #13: Getting Your First Job in Technical Communication
Dec 12, 2018
Skill #12: Teaching Technical Writing
Oct 30, 2018
Skill #11: Surviving in the Dev World
Oct 01, 2018
Best of 2016
Jan 01, 2017
Skill #10: Implementing Single-Source Authoring
Dec 12, 2016
Skill #9: Creating a Human Connection in Your Documentation
Oct 07, 2016
Skill #8: Acquiring the Three Types of Knowledge Tech Writers Need to Succeed
Aug 02, 2016
Skill #7: Preparing for the Future of Tech Comm
Jul 09, 2016
Skill #6: Bridging the Gap Between Documentation and Support
Jun 28, 2016
Skill #5: Getting Involved in a Community
May 19, 2016
Skill #4: Understanding UX Design
May 16, 2016
Skill #3: Creating Just-in-Time Documentation
May 09, 2016
Skill #2: Transitioning from Tech Writing to Marketing
Mar 16, 2016
Skill #1: Applying Empathy to Your Audience Analysis
Mar 01, 2016