About
About
"Not a newsletter. Not a forum. Something more like a journal — written by the people who write everything else."
Per the docs is an anthology series for technical writers. Each round, contributors write on a shared theme — an essay, a reflection, a short piece — and the collection publishes together.
The community is currently made up of former AWS technical writers. If you've worked with us before, reach out. Otherwise, follow along — rounds publish bi-monthly and every collection is free to read.
How it works
Theme announced
The host announces a theme — a word, a phrase, a provocation.
Contributors write
Members write something — any length, any angle on the theme.
The anthology publishes
All contributions appear together — named, credited, collected.
3
Founding members
6
Total members
2
Rounds published
Bi-monthly
Cadence
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 to see what topics we explore next, and connect with us if you'd like to contribute to a future edition.