Per the docs

About Per the docs

A monthly article series featuring technical writers exploring various aspects of our craft. Each month, a different host curates a topic and brings together diverse voices to share insights, experiences, and practical advice.

March 2026

Professional development

Professional development in technical writing isn't one-size-fits-all. This month's writers share how they've invested in their careers, from personal reflections on the skills and communities that shaped their path, to practical tutorials for building the technical skills that matter most right now.

Hosted by Brandi Hopkins

Shelby White

Shelby White

Shelby White is a technical writer specializing in security and identity documentation, with a background in cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure troubleshooting.

Logo designer

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James Beach

James Beach

James Beach is a content strategist and technical writer with a knack for prompt engineering and AI-assisted workflows — always finding new ways to bridge the gap between ideas and execution.

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Our story

Per the docs started from a simple idea: technical writers sharing honest insights about our craft. We all met while working at AWS, where we learned that the best conversations about documentation happened in the margins—the async discussions, the quick DMs, the spontaneous conversations that emerged between meetings. Those informal exchanges, where we could be honest about challenges and share what actually worked, were often more valuable than any formal training.

After AWS, we kept the conversation going. The community we'd built—one rooted in honest feedback and shared problem-solving—became even more important. We found ourselves creating the support system we needed, and eventually realized others might benefit from these conversations too. So we decided to recreate it in a way that could reach beyond our circle. Per the docs brings together technical writers to explore topics that matter to our work, not with prescriptive answers, but with diverse perspectives and honest insights. Each month, a different host chooses a topic and curates a collection of voices, creating space for the kinds of conversations we wish we saw more often in our field.

We hope you'll join the conversation. Whether you're early in your career or decades in, whether you're questioning your approach or feeling confident in your path, there's room for your perspective here. Follow along monthly to see what topics we explore next, and connect with us if you'd like to contribute to a future edition.

Coming soon

Per the docs is getting its own home. Watch for us at perthedocs.com.