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>She commented, after talking about many times she got to rewrite something produced by another >professional writer, that many writers are not very good.
If you ever get the chance to see another writer's work, either by
seeing what they post to a web site or through a contest, do so. If you
are the least bit conscientious about your work or demanding with
yourself, it will cheer you up no end. Although good writers are out
there, they tend to get lost in the general mediocrity. Listening to the
frequent discussions on this list about why tech-writers don't receive
more respect, I sometimes think that the reason is simply because many
don't deserve it. And, naturally, the competent writers get the same
lack of respect until they prove themselves.
Why the levels should be so low, I can only guess.
At times, I wonder if the perception isn't just my own ego. However, I
think I can rule that out. Not that I don't have my share of writerly
conceit (and then some), but I'm sufficiently interested in learning new
techniques that I'm not likely to brand a piece of writing as bad simply
because I would have done it differently; if a technique works, I'm
likely to steal it, not deride it.
Maybe the demand for tech-writers is still greater than the number of
competent applicants. Or, possibly, although some tech-writers have no
ambition to do anything except what they're doing, many still secretly
yearn to be star reporters or famous novelists. Or maybe, as Theodore
Sturgeon pointed out, most examples of anything are bad.
--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com
"In the bathroom mirror they try that Joan of Arc look again
Two parts Ingrid Berman to one part Shirley MacLaine
The wounds of time kill you but the surgeon's knife only stings
Jerusalem on the jukebox, little angels beat your wings."
-Richard Thompson, "Jerusalem on the Jukebox"
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