Michael McCallister

Writer/Author ProTek Writing Services

  • Greater Milwaukee Area WI

Technical Communicator. Author Platform Builder. Book Author: WordPress, Linux, open source software

Contact

Media

Social

Biography

Mike McCallister is devoted to the idea that technology need not be feared, and can be mastered by anyone. After all, he grew up in the days when computers filled entire rooms, and spent 13 years as a civil service clerk doing nothing more technical than recording WordPerfect macros.

Technical communicator with experience in software documentation, online help and book publishing. Freelance technology writer with many credits.

He writes for, and on behalf of, users from the freshest newbie to the experienced professional.

He is devoted to making computing easier for the full spectrum of user levels and experience. As a technical communication consultant, freelance computer magazine writer, and book author, he understands that ordinary people can and should make the most of their tools.

Besides Linux and open source software, interests include tools for communicating via the Web (blogs, social networks, wikis, and the like) and bridging the digital divide.

Industry Expertise

Writing and Editing
Internet
Social Media
Computer Software
Publishing
Information Services

Areas of Expertise

Wordpress
Blogging
Author Platform
Open Web
Open Source
Linux
Technical Writing

Accomplishments

#57 in MindTouch List of "Most Influential in Technical Communication and Content Strategy"

2012-01-06

Based at least in part on my longtime participation and skill in social networking.

Co-Author (with Carole Jelen) of "Build Your Author Platform: The New Rules"

2014-05-13

With hundreds of thousands of books being published each year, building an audience before your book is published has become a necessity. Authors must realize now that it’s not only great writing that makes a successful book.

This book is an easy to read, actionable collection of the steps, techniques, strategies and best practices used in working with successful and prolific published authors.

Contributor, WPMUDev Blog

1.6 million WordPress Superheroes read and trust our blog. I contribute posts on web standards, tutorials on useful WordPress plugins and features, and security.

Education

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

B.A.

History

1989

* Finalist for Best Column, 1988 regional Society of Professional Journalists competition. The same year, our staff won the national SPJ award for Best Non-Daily Newspaper.

* Also attended 1975-79

Affiliations

  • National Writers Union UAW Local 1981
  • Society for Technical Communication (Senior Member)

Languages

  • English

Event Appearances

Learning From the WordPress Sites

WordCamp Milwaukee 2012  Milwaukee, WI

2012-06-03

WordPress, HTML5 and CSS3

Milwaukee WordPress Meetup: Wordpress 3.4 Meets Web Standards: How Did It Do?  Bucketworks, Milwaukee, WI

2012-09-18

Building Authority and Audience with WordPress and Google Authorship

WordCamp Milwaukee 2013  Milwaukee, WI

2013-06-08

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Sample Talks

Helping Make WordPress, Whether You Code or Not

So you've been using WordPress as your web platform for years now. Maybe you think it's time to give back to the free software community that builds and updates your home on the web. But hey, maybe you don't know the difference between PGP and PHP! Maybe you do know the difference, but can't code either one. What can I do?

In this session, I'll give a tour of the Make WordPress site, and with some good fortune, find a place for you to contribute.

Style

Availability

  • Panelist
  • Workshop Leader
  • Author Appearance

Fees

$0 to $1000*Will consider certain engagements for no fee