The PDF portfolio contains a copy of my resume. You can also view my resume online.

Typically the work I do for proprietary technologies has restrictions on its distribution. I contribute to open source projects where the documentation is covered under a less restrictive license because it allows me to provide real-life samples of my work in a public portfolio. Contributing to open source is also an excellent way to add benefit to a project and is great for the tech community.

Technical Writers both seasoned and novice can benefit from participating in open source documentation. In an industry where you have to have experience to get experience, open source projects give novice technical writers the opportunity to apply skills learned in certificate programs. The technology industry is constantly evolving and even seasoned technical writers are challenged to keep their skills current. Open source projects offer the ideal opportunity for seasoned technical writers to work with the latest technology trends.

Many open source projects have documentation teams with a list of tasks for contributors. Here is a list of resources to get started:

• Ubuntu Documentation Project
• Mozilla Developer Documentation
• OpenOffice Documentation Project
• Sourceforge Open Source Project Repository