My goal is to inform, help, and support the technical writing community
Visually Written is a U.S.-based technical writing blog launched in 2024
* My resume
* Technical writing skills
—
I enjoy obsessing over small writing details, such as fonts, white space, paragraph breaks, lists, and page breaks. Why? Because how information is presented is as important as what is being said. Unlike spoken words, written words last longer; it matters if the information is properly crafted. The presentation of the text is the entry point for readers. Making the information attractive so that the reader is likely to read it. Make it ugly, and well…we all know what that means for the longevity and usefulness of the information.
This blog explores technical writing and communication design and best practices, its future, and the impact of AI. I want to foster the creation of exceptional documentation that is visually appealing and easy to understand.
Were you always a technical writer?
Short answer: no.
I’ve spent my life doing many things, and the one consistency is my obsession with how text is written and presented and its aesthetics. A body of text must first be appealing to draw the reader in. Even as a software engineer, the in-code and API documentation was as important as what the code did. Naming functions, variables, and endpoints was exciting because they are integral to documenting code.
I’ve provided various in-person and written training and instruction. I’ve found that the key to being a good instructor is how the written information is presented. Unclear and confusing information does a disservice to both the learner and the presenter. It makes it more difficult for the presenter to engage the learner and harder for the learner to engage with the information.
What is your educational background?
I received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Syracuse University. Then, I received an MBA and Master of Science in Human Resources from Georgia State University. Most recently, I graduated from Amazon Technical Academy as a software engineer.
What is your family like?
I am married with three daughters and currently live in Washington state. I was born in Antigua, West Indies, and after immigrating to the United States, have lived in Massachusetts, New York, and Georgia before moving to Washington.
Why do I want to write?
It took me a while to get to this point. I’ve wanted to for decades, but one thing or the other would pull me away, including not realizing my value as a writer. Today, after spending the past year reigniting my love of letters, I know my value as a writer.
What else should I know about you?
I love too many things and wish I had a clone so I could do more. I love reading, watercolor painting, mindfulness meditation, working on my 2002 BMW X5, traveling, trying new food, cooking, technology, drinking hot tea, hiking, going to the beach, philosophy, futurism, and studying languages, to name a few.
I am eternally curious and always open-minded!