writing SAMPLES

endorsements

C.V.: TECHNICAL WRITER independent contractor [PORTFOLIO]
^*Stephen X. Arthur, M.F.A., M.Sc.
Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Tel./Fax: (604) 264-4166  sxarthur@shaw.ca
www.sxa-portfolio.com

Do you need a writer who can be a strategic contributor? A writer who can think analytically as well as creatively? A writer who can catch errors, plan for contingencies, and keep an eye on the big picture? My training in both hard science and writing for the big screen has equipped me well for delivering technical documentation for a wide range of clients since 1984. I'm good at writing clearly about real-world procedures and concrete actions, as well as editing at all levels. I promote the standards published by Duncan Kent for document development, structure, format, and writing style. one-page functional resumé detailed chronological resumé

bookmarks:
training manuals
video-script clients
communications
academic degrees
authorship
other

CLIENTS-- click icons for samples ()
1984 - 2008 (most in Vancouver)

User
Manuals

E-Comm 9-1-1 Emergency Communications for Southwest British Columbia, Inc.
Developed the format for documenting standard operating procedures for dispatching fire and rescue responders. Wrote and edited the manual in clear, plain English.

BC Transmission Corporation
Wrote and edited a field guide for assessing the condition of critical overhead components such as power lines and towers.

CHC Helicopter Corporation - Global Operations
Wrote a manager's manual for using CHC's Web-based Safety & Quality Integrated Database, a global, integrated, reporting and safety-management system.

Richmond Fire-Rescue
Wrote, revised, and edited various sections of the firefighter's standard operating procedures manual (for intranet).

IMT - Image & Microscope Technology (South Korea)
Wrote sections of a user manual for upgrades to iSolution DT, a professional microscopic image-analysis application.

BC Mineral, Oil and Gas Revenue Branch
Edited, summarized, rewrote, and formatted sections of a manual on software procedures for administrators.

Glenayre Electronics Ltd. - Engineering Dept.
Wrote Operator's, Supervisor's, and Manager's Manuals for a commercial answering-service system, The Message Manager. Supervised complete documentation for installation, operation, and maintenance of a digital paging system.

Spectrum Signal Processing
Developed and co-wrote (with Joyce Arthur) the user guide and online help for an integrated sound/fax/modem/ answering-machine PC expansion board, with associated software.

Mobile Data International (now MDSI)
Documented parts information for the 6100 Portable Data Terminal.  Supervised comprehensive updating of the product documentation, from component-level maintenance to user guide.

Sydney Development Corporation
Wrote the user manual for a stockbroker's software application, Tiger.  Developed software documentation for a mainframe library system, and wrote a user guide for a video game, Gemstone.

McDonald Dettwiler and Associates
Validated documentation for installation, operation, maintenance, and engineering of a mainframe-based meteorological analysis system developed for the U.S. Air Force, AWDS (Automated Weather Distribution System).

H.C.L. McDonald and Associates
Wrote the user guide for a general-ledger accounting software application.

Ministry of Social Services and Housing
Developed the department guide for the District Office Systems group.

Justice Institute of B.C.
Wrote a course calendar for the Fire Academy.

Training
Manuals

Healthy Heart Society - IMPACT BC initiative
Wrote training modules to assist family physicians to make management improvements. Sponsored by the BC Ministry of Health, the BC Medical Association, and Merck Frosst.

B.C. Ministry of Forests
Wrote Participant's and Trainer's Guides for the new Resource Inventory Skills Training Curriculum (including photo interpretation, field navigation, plot sampling for plant identification and coverage, timber cruising, and ecological site series).

Hughes Canada Systems Division - Product Support
Developed the department's procedures for managing, developing, and conducting large-scale training programs for the air-traffic-control industry, based on the Design/IDEF process-mapping software tool. 

B.C. Hydro - Trades Training and Development
Researched and wrote the training modules for a new skills-upgrading course for power system journeymen, Distribution Switching for Linemen.

Justice Institute of B.C.
Developed the course outline for Electrical Safety for Firefighters.

Video
Scripts

--Brief bio--

[Play videos] ImageMaker Advertising - treatments and scripts for corporate documentary videos for mining exploration companies [play videos for Bell, American Creek, and Baffinland].

B.C. Ministry of Forests - series of training videos on Vegetation Inventory field sampling procedures (BCIT/Nutec Training/Black Tusk Video)

Fisheries Council of B.C. - training video on salmon canning (BCIT - AV Dept)

National Film Board of Canada - film series on geological time, Earth Moves

B.C. Cancer Research Centre - Terry Fox Lab - training video on tissue culturing

B.C. Children's Hospital - occupational therapy introduction (Biomedical Communication UBC)

Hillsborough Resources - promotional video on mining properties (Shane Lunny Productions)

Trans Atlantic Resources - promotional video on mining properties (Mott Communications)

B.C. Central Credit Union - training video on deposit insurance (Vidatron Productions)

Justice Institute of B.C. - dramatization video of Police and Fire Academy training

Bikes On Broadway - radio advertisements - comedy (Massey Productions) 

West Vancouver Parks and Recreation - educational film on nature in Lighthouse Park. 

Public
Information

Science World B.C.
Researched and wrote the content for That Day in Science, an interactive computer kiosk on the history of science.

B.C. Medical Association
Wrote a press release, World's Deadliest Poison Used for Revolutionary Therapies.

Glenayre Electronics Marketing Dept.
Wrote brochures, press releases, and overhead presentations for a variety of telecommunications products.

Proposal
Writing

BC Transmission Corporation
Performed substantive editing and rewriting of the 2008 State of the Transmission System Report.

Iwasan Consulting - SR&ED
Wrote Detailed Project Descriptions for Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit reports.

National Film Board of Canada - Earth Moves
Researched and wrote a successful proposal for funding the development of a scientific visualization project: a paleogeographic time-lapse film series for schools, simulated by 3D animation. Researched extensively the subject matter (historical geology), conducted market research, evaluated software, and developed the budget.

Pharmacology research 
Performed substantive and style editing for an MRC grant proposal for Dr. Reza Tabrischi, Dept. Pharmacology, U.B.C.

Media arts
Developed and wrote a successful proposal for a Program of  Work requiring the largest amount of funding awarded to individual media artists by the Canada Council's Creative Development Grants ($20K). Followed this with a successful production-grant proposal ($55K).

Many other grant and sponsorship proposals in the arts and sciences over two decades.

Education
(Degrees)

Master of Science  
Neuroscience (Physiology, Dept. Medicine) -- U. British Columbia, 1991

Focus: molecular and developmental neurobiology, vision, cognition, neuropsychology, neuroplasticity, excitatory amino-acid neurotransmitter receptors, and parallel distributed processing.

Master of Fine Arts  
Cinema -- U. Southern California, 1981

Focus: film production (live action), sound, directing, editing, genres, and screenwriting.

Bachelor of Science
Zoology -- U. British Columbia, 1977

Focus: macroevolution, comparative morphology, developmental biology, fine-art animation, and experimental filmmaking.

Authorship

Motion picture screenplays
Wrote six original, feature-length, commercial screenplays, seven treatments for features, and four short scripts.  Three options to produce were sold to film producers in Los Angeles. 

Published articles
Methods of the Masters, ASIFA Canada, Vol 25, No 4
Recollections from Hiroshima '98, NW Animator
Duck Hybrids and Variants in Greater Vancouver. Discovery 23:1, 3-8

Academic science papers
Wrote basic research manuscripts for journal publication, and various literature-review papers.  Presented at poster sessions at UBC Dept. Ophthalmology and Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in New Orleans, 1991. 

 Film
Production
&
Digital Media

Digital media skills include using advanced production software such as Adobe After Effects for compositing, tracking, and image processing; paint-based animation programs; 3D animation and rendering software such as Discreet 3ds max; Sonic Foundry Sound Forge for sound editing and design; mpeg compression; DVD authoring; and artificial neural networks.

Speaker & Instructor

Workshop on Experimental Bitmap Animation at Ottawa '00 International Animation Festival

Guest speaker and panelist - Vancouver Film School; Center for Digital Imaging and Sound; Independent Film and Video Alliance; Society for Technical Communication; and Ottawa 00 Int'l Animation Festival.

Instructor: Taught "Writing for Film, Television, and Radio" at the Institute of Communication Arts, Vancouver.  Taught Grade 9 Science for two weeks as a student teacher at Kitsilano High School, Vancouver.

Software
Tools

Microsoft Word, FrontPage, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint. Adobe Photoshop and Technical Communication Suite (FrameMaker, Acrobat, Adobe 3D).

ALTERNATIVE
TECHNICAL WRITER:
Joyce Arthur
(also available as a team)

Updated: June 27, 2008