About Me
My name is Haletha Judkins, but you can call me "Letha." Since the mid-1990s, I've had an interesting career path as a technical writer. Starting my journey as a contractor was a bit daunting but gave me the self-confidence, resilience, and enterprising work ethic that was critical for my success in later years.
By the time the dot-com bubble burst, I was entrusted with and successfully managing multiple complex documentation projects—simultaneously. Developer documentation was the most challenging of these projects, so I sought to increase my expertise in this area. I had a taste of programming in college and loved it so much that I considered switching from my Professional Writing major. Mostly through self-study and on-the-job training, I've learned to speak to a developer audience (and computers) through object-oriented, command-line interface, scripting, markup, and front and back-end programming languages.
Over the years, I've developed a passion and expertise for bridging the gap between subject-matter experts and those who consume their products and services. My bottom line is to ensure that technical concepts are accessible to a diverse audience. That's why when someone asks me what I do for a living, I like to say I'm a reader's advocate.
My Skills
End-User Documentation
Skilled at developing content for diverse audiences. I know how to author using document processors, single sourcing, and reuse.
API Documentation
Experience creating content to help developers understand and interact with APIs. I know how to use static site generators, REST API, SOAP, curl, API standards Swagger API, and Postman.
Project Management
Adept at scoping, planning, and managing multiple projects simultaneously as a lead writer. I know how to prioritize and delegate tasks to meet project requirements.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Strong collaborative skills and ability to work closely with diverse teams. I am flexible and opt for problem-solving and conflict-resolution options that promote teamwork.
Technical Expertise
Proficiency with a broad range of tools for authoring content, designing graphics, and building online help. I also know API and network protocols, programming and markup languages, and technologies for collaborative version control, software testing, designing APIs, and managing databases.
Visual Communication
Mastery of skillfully translating complex concepts into clear and compelling visuals standalone or within a document. I have extensive experience creating diagrams, illustrations, and charts.