Writing & Editing Portfolio
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.
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.
I'm currently working as a temp, but I'm open to the possibility of the right permanent position. Please contact me at [Click to reveal email address] to discuss how I can help your company meet its documentation goals.
Resume
My Resume (HTML) My Resume (PDF) For privacy reasons, this version of my resume does not have my phone number or street address. For a resume with complete contact information, please email me at [Click to reveal email address]. Top
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 weekly 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. Top
Website of Leann Rayfuse (Web Design, HTML, CSS, & CMS Sample)
Sample: View the Leann Rayfuse Home page (JPG) View the Leann Rayfuse Sessions page (JPG)
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. Top
MissionWise Website (Web Writing & Editing Sample)
Sample: View the MissionWise Home page (JPG) View the MissionWise Consulting page (JPG)
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. Top
Chill Website (Web Writing & Editing Sample)
Sample: View the Chill Home page (JPG) View the Chill Learn More page (PDF)
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. Top
Seattle Great Date Website (Writing, Web Design, HTML, & CSS Sample)
Note: I'm using screen shots because Seattle Great Date closed and an adult website purchased the domain name. I have NO affiliation with the current site, which is not work-safe.
Sample: View the Seattle Great Date Home page (JPG) View the Seattle Great Date Special Offers page (JPG)
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. Top
Technical Projects
Confidentiality agreements prohibit me from using most of my work in my portfolio. These are the only samples that I have legal permission to share.
User Guide for In-House XML Editor (Writing & XML Sample)
Sample: View the XMetaL Markup Guide (PDF)
Created for: Microsoft (contracted through Volt)
Purpose: Revise the user guide for the in-house 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. Top
Quick Reference Guide for In-House XML Editor (Writing & XML Sample)
Sample: View XMetaL for Editors (PDF)
Created for: Microsoft (contracted through Volt)
Purpose: Create a two-page quick reference guide to help editorial staff use the in-house XML editor to create and revise help topics.
My Contribution: While writing the user guide for the in-house 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. Top
MissionWise Help File (Writing Sample)
Sample: View the MissionWise Help File (PDF)
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. (I'm using a PDF because access to this portion of the MissionWise website requires a login.) Top
Captaris Speech Manual, Chapter 3 (Editing & Microsoft Word Sample)
Sample: View the Tracked Changes Version
of Ch. 3 (PDF)
Created for: Bellevue Community College Technical Writing program, Software Documentation class
Purpose: Give the instructions a clear, concise style.
My Contribution: I edited this chapter and reformatted it in Microsoft Word. For more
information, you can view my analysis
of the chapter's problems (PDF) or view
the original, unedited version of the chapter (PDF). Top
VCR Manual Documentation Plan (Documentation Plan & Adobe FrameMaker Sample)
Sample: View the VCR Manual Documentation Plan
(PDF)
Created for: Bellevue Community College Technical Writing program, Project Management class
Purpose: Choose a manual from a product at home and reverse-engineer the documentation plan.
My Contribution: I wrote and edited this documentation plan, and then redesigned it in Adobe FrameMaker for my portfolio. Top
Security Problems White Paper (Editing & Microsoft Word Sample)
Sample: View the Tracked Changes Version
of the White Paper (PDF)
Created for: Bellevue Community College Technical Writing program, Proofreading and Editing class
Purpose: Find a white paper on the Internet, analyze its problems, and edit it.
My Contribution: I edited this white paper and reformatted it in Microsoft Word. For more information, you can view
my analysis of the white paper's problems (PDF) or view
the original, unedited white paper (PDF). Top
Marketing Projects
Early Childhood Product Brochure (Writing Sample)
Sample: View the Early Childhood Product
Brochure (PDF)
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. Top
K-12 Product Brochure (Writing Sample)
Sample: View the K-12 Product Brochure
(PDF)
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. Top
Outcomes Newsletter (Editing Sample)
Sample: View the Tracked Changes
Version of Outcomes (PDF)
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. View the Published Version of Outcomes (PDF). Top
