Lower the Barrier of Entry: Empowering Non-writer Contributions to Docs

Documentation thrives on contributions, but many potential contributors hesitate to edit docs because uncertainty about style, structure, and quality standards. This presentation from Manny Silva, head of documentation for SkyFlow, demonstrates how modern tooling can create a supportive environment that empowers non-writers to confidently contribute to documentation. Manny will explore a practical toolkit combining templates for clear structure, AI-powered drafting assistance, automated style checking, format linting, content validation, and quality reviews to guide contributors through the docs process. Through these tools and a streamlined editing workflow, teams can create an environment where developers, product managers, support staff, and other non-writers feel confident contributing while maintaining documentation standards. We'll examine real examples of successful implementations and provide practical steps for adding these capabilities to your own docs. In this session, attendees will learn: o. How to implement documentation tooling that guides non-technical contributors through the writing process o. Practical strategies for using templates, AI assistance, and automated checks to maintain documentation quality o. Steps to create a streamlined editing workflow that builds contributor confidence while preserving documentation standards o. Real-world examples of successful documentation democratization using modern tools Can’t make it? Register, and we’ll send you a link you can use to watch a recording when it’s convenient for you. This educational web presentation is brought to you by The Content Wrangler and is Lavacon, the conference on content strategy and technical documentation management.