Tag: subject matter experts

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Suzanne Schaan

The SME and Me: Navigating an Edit with a Subject Matter Expert

May 7, 2026 by Suzanne Schaan | Leave a Comment

The first publishing company I worked for had an in-house newsletter that included photos from sales meetings, recipes, updates on the company baseball team (the Weasels) and random pieces on diverse topics. One of my contributions was titled something like, “How to impress at cocktail parties.” (Unfortunately, I can’t find the original; I hope the […]

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Tracey Anderson

Editing Technical Instructional Material: Do You Need to Be an Expert?

January 23, 2018 by Tracey Anderson | 21 Comments on Editing Technical Instructional Material: Do You Need to Be an Expert?

“How can you edit that? You don’t know anything about being an electrician.” I often heard that question and variations of it — carpenter, instrument technician, welder — in my years editing technical instructional materials for apprenticeship trades in Alberta. This is how I answered the question. I am the target audience The goal of […]

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Tracey Anderson

Editing Technical Instructional Material: Become the Student

December 6, 2016 by Tracey Anderson | 5 Comments on Editing Technical Instructional Material: Become the Student

Creating effective instructional material for technical students can be tricky. Making it student friendly requires a balance between adequately covering the information, which is often highly technical, and presenting it in a way that a wide range of students can understand. These are some ways editors can help subject matter experts (SMEs) find this balance. Watch […]

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Sue Archer

Should You Only “Edit What You Know”?

March 8, 2016 by Sue Archer | 3 Comments on Should You Only “Edit What You Know”?

Writers are often told to “write what they know.” But what about editors? Should we only take on projects that are squarely in our comfort zones? When I asked this question online, I found that many of my editing colleagues endorse the idea of editing in new areas. It’s a fantastic way to develop your […]

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