Welcome. My name is Bill Creitz and I operate under the name Stoneridge Technical Services. I provide technical writing, editing, illustrating and related services for delivering product information to your customers. I specialize in user documentation and user interface analysis.

User documentation

User manuals. To effectively support your customers, I take a user-centric approach to product documentation. Users rarely have the time to read a manual from cover to cover, so I...

Build manuals around user tasks rather than product features,
Look for opportunities to provide graphic explanations instead of dense text,
Carefully structure information so it can be easily navigated and absorbed, and
Provide condensed instructions for power users.

I can also revitalize existing user manuals, or collaborate on writing projects with your technical experts.

Electronic publishing. I can prepare documents for electronic distribution via CDs, the Internet and intranets.

Online help. Rather than simply reformatting material from printed documentation, I redesign information to fit the unique capabilities of this hypertext medium.

User interface analysis

Your product's user interface is its most critical and enduring contact point with your customer. A great interface is hardly noticed. A poor one can be constantly frustrating.

Working with your software engineers, I can recommend UI improvements, or design attractive and intuitive interfaces. My approach emphasizes...

Visual clarity
Logical structure and flow
Appropriate terminology
Task support
Typography and color
Local explanations
User efficiency

Other services

Although not my main focus, I can also produce web content, PowerPoint presentations, process diagrams, training manuals, interactive computer-based training, news releases and marketing materials. I'm known for making complex information easy to understand.

What's your project?

To get started, just tell me about your project. I'll get back to you with a no-obligation proposal.