Making a Proposal for the Region 7 Conference;
Or, How I Managed to Put My Foot in It Twice

by Valerie M. Ball

The Postcard

Last February or thereabouts, along with probably every other member of the Region 7 STC chapters, I received a postcard that called for proposals for the annual conference to be held in Calgary, October 2-4, 2003.

My first reaction was, "Gee, I've never been to Calgary." (A similar reaction and curiosity about new places led me to work in China for a year and in Japan for three and a half years.)

But Calgary should be safe: it had a time limit of October 2-4, securely contained within the year 2003.

I reckoned that I was "due" to give a presentation, and applying for one would be good experience. I further reckoned that I wouldn't be successful on my first try, as I'd been a tech writer only since September 2000, and I'd joined STC only in January 2002.

Well, my theory sounded reasonable to me.

The Web Site

I first went to the Web site listed on the postcard (www.region7conference.com) to choose from among the following five topics: Tools and Technology; Writing, Editing, and Translating; Careers and Professional Development; Information Design and Production; and Training and Development. All of them looked beneficial to conference attendees, but I couldn't immediately see how I fit any of them.

The First Idea (or Foot)

I've taken a few courses in writing, and I've even taught a few courses. Along the way, I learned a few methods to choose writing topics, so I only needed to apply my knowledge:

• Rule 1: Know your audience. They're STC members, so that part isn't too difficult.
• Rule 2: Write about something that you know. Hmmm. I don't know tools and technology, and I don't know information design and production. I haven't been a tech writer long enough to consider myself an expert on the writing/editing/translating, careers and professional development, or training and development.

Back to Rule 2 and what I know. I had almost completed a Master of Science degree in Technical Writing from Portland State University. I already held a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Colorado. As an English major, I've long had a theory that any topic can be worked into a paper, and any paper can be developed as compare/contrast or some other mode of rhetoric taught in English comp classes. The compare/contrast rhetorical mode inspired me to analyze the relative strengths and weaknesses of MAs in English and MSs in technical writing upon career development and transitions for technical writers.

As if I were trying to ensure not being accepted, I waited until the original deadline date of April 30 to build my outline of the proposal, create the title of "Mastering the Words?" and write the following abstract:

I first compare and contrast master-level education in English and technical writing with an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each discipline. Using these analyses and the "Funnel" approach developed by Garret Romaine (adjunct faculty at Portland State University and a publications manager in Portland, Oregon), I then demonstrate how higher education enhances and expands career development and transitions.

I registered online and e-mailed my abstract and outline to the conference hosts. I resigned myself to certain rejection when the presenters would be announced in early June, so I didn't even start to write my paper.

The Second Idea (or Foot)

In mid-May, when I was almost finished writing my final examination answer for my M.S., I realized that my exam answer was suitable as a proposal for careers and professional development. In fact, I started to think that it was even better than my original proposal, especially because the paper was already written. Alas, though, the deadline was past.

I had an idle moment, however, and returned to the Web site to see if there were any new developments about the conference. I was startled to see that the deadline had been extended to May 24.

I stared at the date and decided that the extension was a sign, a sign that I should submit a second proposal. The conference hosts were generous: presenters could make more than one proposal. I thus wrote the following abstract:

Technical writers enhance their career development and move faster through career transitions when they expand beyond the writing of didactic text to publish in journals and magazines. Additional attempts to write and publish creative and nonfiction pieces further develop their careers in any genre of communications.

Again, I registered online and e-mailed my abstract and paper. I wondered if rejections come in varying degrees.

Results

Both proposals were accepted.

My first reaction? Incredulity.

My second reaction? Now, I had to write the second paper.

My third reaction? Maybe I should start feeling nervous because I've never attended any STC gathering outside of our cozy Willamette Valley chapter, let alone given a presentation at one.

Seriously, though, a relative lack of STC experience or longevity is a poor excuse not to make proposals for conferences, and this suggestion holds true for me or for anyone else. The contributions of inexperienced or new members are valuable in their fresh viewpoints. In turn, the evaluation of such viewpoints by more experienced members helps to strengthen the organization because we grow from the knowledge and insights of all of our members.

My experience through the proposal process has been very positive. The conference hosts have been helpful and friendly in their prompt responses to my questions, as they understandably want presenters and attendees to value their offerings. I've also talked with some WVC members who have attended conferences, and they have reassured me that such events for STC have a nurturing atmosphere.

Wishes and Feet

Ironically, though, I recall an expression: "Be careful what you wish for."

I probably didn't need to put my foot in it twice.

Employed as a technical writer at Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics, Valerie M. Ball has been a member of WVC since January 2002, served as a technical art judge in the 2002-2003 competition, and won an award of excellence for her trade-journal article, "Risk-Free Runways." In a series of career transitions, she has been a political writer and a university instructor of English in New York, China, Oregon, and Japan. She can be reached at vmball@rockwellcollins.com.