One year at Fern, a reflection
I left Google in January 2025 at the end of my maternity leave. That had never been my plan, but when my relocation request got unexpectedly denied (to another Google office my organization already had a presence in, not remote, yep I’m still bitter), I quit.
The case of the disappearing SME meeting
I documented internal Search infrastructure at Google for about five years, from 2018 to early 2023. (From 2023 until my resignation in December 2024, I worked on content strategy and operations for AI Overviews. Similar skillset, but very different output.)
How I used Claude Code to restructure and redirect files
Any technical writer working on a large documentation site with legacy docs knows the pain of site reorganization projects.
Getting into technical writing: a primer
Over the past few years I’ve talked to a number of people who are interested in getting into the technical writing field. After years of meaning to do this, I finally took some time to write up the thoughts and resources I typically share with people looking to get into the field. This is far from a comprehensive guide and notably doesn’t include much specific resume or cover letter advice.
Using (and not using) Claude to write book reviews
I write a lot about books on this site. I write about books because I love reading and I love writing about the books I read. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with using AI as part of my writing process, most notably for my two recent writeups on The Count of Monte Cristo and The True Deceiver.
Updated: 06 Jun 2025
Using an LLM to revamp my site
Recently, I revamped this site to use Jekyll and Markdown instead of handwritten HTML. I used Claude to do it. Overall, I found that Claude is good for troubleshooting when you already have some domain experience.
Managing library books on the Kobo Libra H2O
This page describes how to set up a library account and manage library books on the Kobo Libra H2O device using OverDrive functionality. This page does not cover the Kobo app, another tool you can use to check out books to both the app and your e-reader.
I like e-readers now
I’ve never been a fan of e-readers. I’m put off by the prospect of paying for a book that only exists on a device, especially when the price of e-books approaches or exceeds the cost of physical books (especially the used copies I tend to buy). I also just love physical books – the weight and feel of them, the experience of reading, the look of books on my shelf.