Vancouver, B.C., hosts plain language conference Oct. 10-13, 2013

As an advocate for clear, concise writing and design, I am excited about this conference and plan to attend. Here's the conference news release:

The Plain Language Association InterNational will hold its 9th biennial conference in 2013. The theme of the international conference is Plain Language Advances: New skills, knowledge, research, and best practices.

"Since 2013 marks PLAIN's 20th anniversary, it is fitting that we will be back in Canada, in the city where it all began,” said PLAIN President Deborah Bosley. “We are co-hosting with Community Plain Language Services Corp., a Vancouver-based non-profit created by PLAIN's founder Cheryl Stephens."

"We are excited to recognize our advances over the last two decades, yet focus on the future of plain language," said Cheryl Stephens, Managing Director of Community Plain Language Services Corporation, a conference host. "The program includes international experts and workshops by leaders in the field, who will challenge our thinking and help plan a path for the coming years."

Plenary speakers from around the globe will cover topics like the future avenues for plain language, recent research findings, the design of an international training program, ethical issues, and the affects of recent brain research on our work. Plain language proponents and the main sponsors are the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Writing and Communications Program in the Department of Lifelong Learning at Simon Fraser University.

"Technology is having a huge influence on communication, comprehension and creativity," said Kate Harrison Whiteside, PLAIN co-founder and Principal at Key Advice. "We will use the conference to explore technology and plain language. After the success of our International Plain Language Day (IPLDay) virtual conference last October 13, we will be taking IPLDay 2013 to the next level."

Visit the PLAIN2013.org website for more program news as we confirm details. Watch for the call for participation and online registration in January 2013.

Here's more information about the Plain Language Association InterNational, or PLAIN. It is the leading voluntary organization of plain language advocates and professionals with members in Canada, the United States, Australia, England, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand and other countries.

And here's my website on plain language: Garbl's Plain English Writing Guide. It describes a seven-step approach to writing clearly and concisely to meet the needs of your readers. Covers reader and purpose, organization, paragraphs, sentences, words, design and testing.