TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Software For Students From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 22 Feb 2001 13:43:36 -0800
"Brierley, Sean" wrote:
> [Bryan Westbrook] quoted Mr. Vonnegut thusly:
>
> "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., who told a class of aspiring writers at
> a university to major in anything except English."
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: bryan -dot- westbrook -at- amd -dot- com [SMTP:bryan -dot- westbrook -at- amd -dot- com]
> > You took that out of context. I had just said that they should study
> > other
> > things outside of the program.
I've always assumed that Vonnegut's comments to mean that the narrow
art of dissecting a piece of writing is very different from the act
of writing itself. Possibly, too, he was implying that English
classes teach people to pose, and to fall in love with the idea of
being a writer, rather than with the idea of writing. He wouldn't be
the first professional writer to hold these views.
BTW, in freefall association, Vonnegut's comments remind me of
another writer (whose name escapes me; middle age is apparently hard
upon me today) who, when asked if universities discouraged too many
writers, replied that, unfortunately, it did not discourage enough.
--
Bruce Byfield 317.833.0313 bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com
Director of Marketing and Communications,
Progeny Linux Systems
"In no longer pretty cities, there are fingers in the kitties,
There are warrant forms and chitties and a jackboot on the stair,
There's sex and greed and human grime in monochrome for one thin
dime
And at least the trains all run on time - but they don't go
anywhere."
- Allan Moore, "V for Vendetta"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-Based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 ($100 STC Discount)
**WEST COAST LOCATIONS** San Jose (Mar 1-2), San Francisco (Apr 16-17) http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by ForeFront, Inc., maker of ForeHelp Help authoring tools
for print, WinHelp, HTML Help, JavaHelp, and cross-platform InterHelp
See www.forehelp.com for more information and free evaluation downloads
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
