Context, Not Content, is King

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Bart Leahy

I’ve spent much of my time on this blog explaining how to write content: organizing it, shaping it, researching it, imbuing it with just the right facts or tone. But after a discussion with ChatGPT, it occurred to me that my superpower might not be helping others understand content, but context, i.e., the circumstances under which content is created. THAT is the key thing they do not teach you in college/university, so today I’ll talk a little bit more about that to help you avoid land mines in the workplace. Continue reading →

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Dog Toy Test Report

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Bart Leahy

The Pup Puzzle was purchased as a way to file down the dogs’ claws.

Test #1: Treats inserted into trays so dogs could see them. Dog 1 kept waiting for the humans to hand her treats. Dog 2 became startled by the sound of the scratch pads and proceeded to avoid the Puzzle completely. Efforts to put Dog 1’s paw on the scratch pad met with resistance even when treat was revealed.

Test #2 (30 minutes later): Dog 2 determined there were treats in the trays and proceeded to use her snoot to give herself and Dog 1 access to the remaining treats. Dog 1 returned to lick the Puzzle for any remaining crumbs.

Treats consumed: 7
Claws filed: 0

Testing suspended until further notice.

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Reader Response: Can I Get a STEM Job With No Degree in the Field?

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Bart Leahy

While I’ve been retired from this page for a bit, it’s nice to know that the content is still finding its designated audience. With the reader’s permission, I’ve reposted our recent correspondence, with a bit of editing here and there. Thanks for reading, Ruwa!

Hi Mr. Leahy, I found your website through my technical communications professor, who is trying to get us acquainted with the profession. After looking at your LinkedIn, I saw that you have extensive experience working as a technical writer for companies within the STEM field without a degree in the sciences. How difficult has it been, especially in recent years, to get a job in a STEM field without an education in the field? Also, what advice would you give to a soon-to-be English grad interested in entering a technical writing job in the STEM field? Continue reading →

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Heroic Technical Writing in a Time Fraught with Political Peril

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Bart Leahy

I’ve talked about this before, but it seems to be that sort of time again. This is going to be a challenging post to write, but it is also necessary. How do you write heroically (i.e., write in line with your personal conscience) if the work you are doing conflicts with your personal beliefs? The short version, I would say, is to rein in your urge to talk or write in a way that might alienate coworkers or managers and save your unabashed feelings for social media. If that becomes impossible, you might want to consider changing work locations, circumstances permitting. I have more thoughts below. Continue reading →

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And Now for Something Completely Different

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Bart Leahy

A while back, I got assigned to a different supervisor, a guy younger than me who’s dedicated to doing all the “coach” things, including helping me with my career. My first response was, “Dude, I’m 55 years old. How much career development do you expect me to do?” Still, I agreed to think the matter over and see what I might do with the 10-20 years of useful work left in me. Continue reading →

Posted in business writing, careers, education, engineering, interviews, management, presentations, research, technical writing, Technology, workplace | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments