When no one's home: being a remote writer on distributed teams

Abstract

Technology has permanently shifted communication, making remote interaction commonplace. Lack of face-to-face contact can be a disorienting experience for any communicator. Project teams that are spread across multiple time zones have no guarantee of successful teamwork. Are the rules different for remote teams? Integrating as technical writers on remotely distributed teams requires special behaviors. How should remote writers avoid misunderstandings? How can they produce quality documentation under these circumstances? How can they prepare to cope the next time they are thrown into a remote team situation? How would a possible best practice function?.