Technical writers often find themselves caught between the demands of technical experts and the needs of the audience. How can you make sure you’ve satisfied both? In this one-hour webinar, plain language expert Wendy Wagner-Smith will give you a speedy overview of the concepts and techniques of plain language. After 10 years of teaching plain language, Wendy knows the quickest ways to improve your writing and make it clearer and more understandable for readers.
Also known as plain English, plain language is such an important concept that Congress passed a law requiring it to be used in federal documents. Why? Because using plain language ensures that stakeholders can read and understand what we write. You’ll be glad you cleared space on your calendar for this introductory webinar that will make you think differently about what you write and who you are writing it for.
About Wendy Wagner-Smith
Wendy Wagner-Smith is the training coordinator for the federal Plain Language Action and Information Network and a senior plain language instructor. She coordinates a corps of 20 volunteer trainers who travel from agency to agency by request to teach basic plain language concepts and techniques to federal employees. Wendy has taught plain language in 53 agencies and federal offices in her 10 years as a trainer, and she has taught thousands of federal employees and government communications professionals the difference between plain language and government speak.
Wendy has been a guest speaker and trainer both nationally and internationally for organizations such as the National Association of Government Communicators and the Society for Technical Communications. Her dynamic and interactive talks will challenge your beliefs about “proper” writing and why plain language is about more than just writing short sentences.
Wendy began her career in newspaper journalism, spending more than 15 years as a reporter and writing coach. She progressed into book publishing and from there to the federal government, where is she is currently a senior writer-editor for the Office of Financial Research in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Wendy has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and she has done post-graduate coursework at Harvard University Extension School and the Virginia Commonwealth University. A Virginia native, she currently lives in Maryland with her husband and teen-aged daughter.