Writing & Editing Portfolio
Introduction Contact Me Technical Projects- Kindle Textbook Creator User Guide (Writing Sample)
- XML Editor User Guide (Writing & XML Sample)
- XML Editor Quick Reference (Writing & XML Sample)
- eBook Quality Checklist (Writing & Editing Sample)
- Technical Documentation SOP & Process Map (Writing & Editing Sample)
- Kindle Publishing Guidelines SOP, Style Sheet, & Process Map (Writing & Editing Sample)
- MissionWise Help (Writing Sample)
Web Projects- TrishTales.com (Writing, Graphics, Web Design, HTML, CSS, & CMS Sample)
- Leann Rayfuse (Web Design, HTML, CSS, & CMS Sample)
- MissionWise (Web Writing & Editing Sample)
- Chill (Web Writing & Editing Sample)
- Seattle Great Date (Writing, Web Design, HTML, & CSS Sample)
Marketing Projects- Early Childhood Product Brochure (Writing Sample)
- K-12 Product Brochure (Writing Sample)
- Outcomes Newsletter (Writing Sample)
Introduction
My name is Tricia Spicer Bekey. I'm an experienced writer and editor who can help your company create useful documentation that gets results. Throughout my career, I have pursued a broad range of writing and editing experience so that I could be a highly productive and useful team member. (For details on my work experience, visit my LinkedIn profile.)
These are the skills that I would bring to your company:
Solid Writing and Editing Skills: I have written and edited hardware and software manuals, help files, websites, educational products, training guides, and marketing materials. I'm capable of handling any of the writing and/or editing needs of your project, because my experience includes every step of the documentation cycle from concept development to final proof.
Strong Computer Skills: I learn software very quickly and easily, which makes me a productive contributor to your team. I'm proficient with Microsoft Office programs, Adobe publishing programs, HTML editors, XML editors, graphics programs, and content management systems.
Crisis-Tested Project Management Skills: I make production schedules that managers can count on, suggest innovative ways to reduce costs, communicate well with teammates, and keep projects on track and moving forward.
Calm, Positive Attitude: I enjoy collaborating with teammates and believe that treating them with respect and patience helps everyone survive the deadlines. I don't fear challenges, because I know they lead to learning opportunities. I also keep calm in a crisis, make people laugh, and share yummy treats.
Contact Me
I'm currently seeking a permanent technical writer/editor position in the Seattle area and am also open to working remotely. If you don't already have my email address, please use the JavaScript form below to contact me. I look forward to discussing how I can help your company meet its documentation goals.
Technical Projects
Kindle Textbook Creator User Guide (Writing Sample)
Created for: Amazon
Purpose: Teach authors how to use Kindle Textbook Creator to make their own eBooks.
My Contribution: I tested the software and worked with the developers to write a user-friendly guide that would teach our authors how to convert PDF files into Kindle eBooks.
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XML Editor User Guide (Writing & XML Sample)
Created for: Microsoft (contracted through Volt)
Purpose: Revise the user guide for an XML editor to help editorial staff learn how to use it to create and revise help topics.
My Contribution: Since the original guide was written for developers, I created a new guide with my supervisor's consent. I wrote the new guide to fit the editorial staff's production needs and XML experience level, and revised it in response to feedback. This user guide received glowing reviews and was added to the team's style guide.
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XML Editor Quick Reference Guide (Writing & XML Sample)
Created for: Microsoft (contracted through Volt)
Purpose: Create a two-page quick reference guide to help editorial staff use an XML editor to create and revise help topics.
My Contribution: While writing the user guide for an XML editor, I realized that a two-page quick reference guide would be very useful for the editorial staff. I documented their most common XML challenges, wrote the guide, and revised it in response to feedback. This quick reference guide was very well received and most of the editors kept it near their computers.
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eBook Quality Checklist (Writing & Editing Sample)
Created for: Amazon
Purpose: Teach new hires how to check the quality of recently converted eBooks for top-tier publishers.
My Contribution: I wrote, revised, and tested this process with input from stakeholders and teammates. This checklist became the gold standard for top-tier publishers who wanted white glove treament and was adopted by Kindle teams around the world.
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Technical Documentation SOP & Process Map (Writing & Editing Sample)
Created for: Amazon
Purpose: Teach stakeholders how to request user guides and other documentation from our team.
My Contribution: Amazon has small start-up projects that need user guides, but don't have technical writers. To improve our process, I drafted this standard operating procedure (SOP) and process map for creating user guides based on early projects, reviewed it with teammates and stakeholders, and updated it as needed. These documents helped us manage expectations with a variety of teams, which led to a smoother workflow.
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Kindle Publishing Guidelines SOP, Style Sheet, & Process Map (Writing & Editing Sample)
Created for: Amazon
Purpose: Teach stakeholders how to contribute to the Kindle Publishing Guidelines.
My Contribution: Kindle teams throughout the world contribute to the Kindle Publishing Guidelines. To improve our process, I drafted this standard operating procedure (SOP) for quarterly updates, reviewed it with teammates and stakeholders, and updated it as needed. These documents helped us manage expectations with a variety of teams, which led to a smoother workflow.
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MissionWise Help File (Writing Sample)
Created for: Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Purpose: Respond to customer complaints by creating a help file that taught visitors how to use the features in the members-only sections of the MissionWise website.
My Contribution: With the help file I wrote, members can click the help link next to a feature and see user-friendly instructions for that feature.
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Web Projects
This Website—TrishTales.com (Writing, Graphics, Web Design, HTML, CSS, & CMS Sample)
Created for: Myself
Purpose: Showcase my creative projects.
My Contribution: I wrote the content, coded the HTML and CSS, and created the graphics. The most popular feature is Action Figure Diary, a photo-comic. Action Figure Diary uses the Nucleus content management system, which I customized. This comic gets approximately 10,000 visitors a month and traffic increases every month. For an overview of this site, visit the site map.
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Website of Leann Rayfuse (Web Design, HTML, CSS, & CMS Sample)
Created for: Leann Rayfuse, freelance client
Purpose: Market the services of Leann Rayfuse, holistic counselor and coach, with a website that she could update herself.
My Contribution: I designed the website, built it in the Nucleus content management system, and configured separate accounts for editing content and administrating major functions. This allowed the client to write and edit her text without affecting navigation or layout.
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MissionWise Website (Web Writing & Editing Sample)
Created for: Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Purpose: Sell the services of a new business-development division.
My Contribution: I worked closely with principals to determine their audience and message, wrote most of the copy, edited the work of others, and made edits in the DotNetNuke content management system. I also wrote online help for the members-only features.
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Chill Website (Web Writing & Editing Sample)
Created for: Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Purpose: Sell the Chill series on teen stress management.
My Contribution: I worked closely with salespeople to determine the audience and goals, wrote most of the copy, edited the work of others, and made online edits in the DotNetNuke content management system.
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Seattle Great Date Website (Writing, Web Design, HTML, & CSS Sample)
Created for: Seattle Great Date
Purpose: Create a simple website that the client could use to announce speed-dating events and process customer sign-ups.
My Contribution: I wrote the copy, designed the layout, and coded the HTML and CSS. I also created five sign-up forms and configured a Perl script called FormMail to process them. When the website was complete, I recruited subjects to do usability testing in a variety of browsers.
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Marketing Projects
Early Childhood Product Brochure (Writing Sample)
Created for: Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Purpose: Create a brochure that tied three products together as training and continuing education materials for early childhood professionals.
My Contribution: I worked closely with our salespeople to determine the audience and goals, wrote the brochure, and revised it in response to feedback.
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K-12 Product Brochure (Writing Sample)
Created for: Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Purpose: Create a brochure that tied three products together under the umbrella of school wellness policies.
My Contribution: I worked closely with our salespeople to determine the audience and goals, wrote the brochure, and revised it in response to feedback.
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Outcomes Newsletter (Editing Sample)
Created for: Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
Purpose: Increase the credibility of an early childhood product by publishing the results of our customer surveys on the product's effectiveness.
My Contribution: I edited this newsletter in accordance with the organization's goals and standards.
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