|
September 2003, v1e4
Greetings, All--
Since our last communiqué, things have picked up, oh, just a bit here at stevenolson.com. Over the Summer, I wrote 14 user manuals and a couple of articles, revised a manuscript, took a Newswriting class, and moved myself and my girlfriend Margaret to our new home. I need a hug.
Games
A client in the games industry lost one of its senior writers just before the busy season began, and I became a wholly owned subsidiary for the Summer. To manage 14 user documentation projects in three months required a fair bit of organization and discipline; on average, if the project arrived on Monday, it was due on Thursday. But I love the challenge of staying on top of the deadlines and details. It all got done, and Margaret is gladly helping me to spend the proceeds on nested Tupperware at IKEA. I need another hug.
Marketing
I finished up a couple of articles on techniques and technologies in development for next-generation games titles. One of the lesser-known uses of the Global Positioning System (GPS) of satellites is to digitize real-world golf courses to an accuracy of a few millimeters. I was impressed; I can't even measure window dimensions to a few millimeters, as I've recently been informed. For more on my stronger suits, please visit my Marketing home page.
Education
Like the news business itself, the Newswriting course from UC Extension was practical and to the point and perhaps the best class ever taken through my alma mater. The trick in writing the news, I learned, is all in the reporting. Ask the right question, and the story will follow. The skills developed in the Newswriting course should assist in case studies and client qualification in general. And with pointed inquiries at IKEA. Example: why doesn't this come in taupe?
Webdev
My dad and I have been making good headway on our archiving project. We've now got over 250 pictures scanned and catalogued, and I've created some HTML-based family trees. If history is written by the victors, family history is written by he who mans the scanner. The whole project is coming together nicely and should be finished for the holidays.
Moving
Whether moving six blocks or six hundred miles, get rid of as much stuff as possible before the moving trucks arrive. This tip has been brought to you by my back.
Fall has arrived, and as we get settled in the new place, I am beginning to nose around for projects. As always, feel free to inquire about your projects. For more: stevenolson.com.
Cheers,
-SteveO
Web version: www.stevenolson.com/newsletter/091903sponews.htm
|