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Subject:RE: You Don't Need to Know How From:"SHIELDS,SUSAN (HP-FtCollins,ex1)" <susan_shields2 -at- hp -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 25 Jul 2001 10:04:31 -0700
In response to my
:: KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!
Bill Swallow said:
>I think the issue goes far beyond knowing your audience.
Sure. Knowing your audience is just one interesting point in the larger
discussion.
>Because your
>audience just needs to know what button to click, does not mean you only
>learn that much of the product.
I agree, sort of. That's why I followed with a caveat "...you probably don't
HAVE to have an
intimate knowledge of its inner workings -- although having that knowlege
might give you a perspective into troubleshooting, cautions, tips, etc."
>At the same time, knowing too much runs the
>risk most developers face: they are too intimate with the product and can't
>speak to it outside that scope.
I think technical writers should have a foot in both camps: keep the users'
perspective but be conversant with the technology. Be an information bridge
but also focus the information. And when the writer chooses a focus,
audience requirements should be a deciding factor.
>Also, I think it goes without saying that the more you know, the more
>marketable you are...
Maybe. Depends on what you know and what the market demands. More isn't
necessarily better.
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