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Re: Mayvbe O/T? - Text development vs tech writing
Subject:Re: Mayvbe O/T? - Text development vs tech writing From:Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 07 Jun 2001 12:33:19 -0700
Judy Ferril wrote:
> I am curious how this works as I have been asked to do so and am finding it
> difficult. Just write text and turn it over to a formatter (?). This person
> then chooses graphics, set up, etc. and applies it to the text. I usually
> tie all of these together to make it flow, not to mention instructional. Any
> suggestions for removing my mental block would be appreciated.
Your situation isn't that different from writing with XML. But it does
take some getting used to. Here's a few suggestions that might help:
-Use a basic text editor, instead of your usual word processor.
Probably, the formatter will want your output in this format anyway.
But, more importantly, you won't be tempted to worry about formatting,
because the tool won't support any.
-If you are worried about what the formatter will do, consider
delivering your work with a hard copy with proofreading marks. Even
though formatting isn't your concern on this job, you're likely to want
to explain some aspects of the work to the formatter.
-You might also want to confer with the formatter about the graphics. If
screen shots are involved, your input would be useful.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
"Any view of things that is not strange is false."
-Neil Gaiman, "Soft Places"
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