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.
1. If you were to list the five most stressful aspects of being a
technical writer (from most to least stressful), what items would you
list?
To directly answer your question:
* last minute product functionality changes.
* compatibility issues with online-delivered content.
* diving into a new product/technology and being expected to write
intelligently about it in a rather short period of time.
* tools issues (those darn features that refuse to work though you swear
they worked before)
* milking SMEs for information
To indirectly answer your question:
Stress is relative. Some people sweat bullets at night dreading the above.
Some consider them a welcome challenge that comes with the job. Sometimes
these things bug me, sometimes they don't. Usually several need to be
happening at a time to get my tension level up.
2. Are there any specific strategies you use to cope with work stress?
Make friends at work - people you can share your general frustrations with.
No one likes whining, but people do like to release what's eating them.
Accept an alternative to whatever is bothering you. If you can't get your
doc tools to do X, try Y instead. If you can't milk SME#1 for info, try
SME#2...
Leave it at work. If you are having a stressful day, leave it at work. Don't
bring work home that night, and occupy your mind with other things (a ball
game, dinner out with the family, a movie, whatever).
Take advantage of any company perks that might exist. If you have a game
room, use it. If your company is having a social, go. If they have a gym,
work out. Do anything you can during the day to distract your attention away
from the stress and on to more calming thoughts.
Put the problem aside for a few hours, despite your deadline. If something's
bugging you, it's going to continue to bug you until you can rationally
think through it. Put it aside and work on something else, and then come
back to it later. The solution to what's stressing you out might be obvious.
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BILL SWALLOW
Technical Writer
C O U R I O N C O R P O R A T I O N
1881 Worcester Road
Framingham, Mass. 01701
T E L * 508-879-8400 x316
F A X * 508-879-8500
www.courion.com
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A landmark hotel, one of America's most beautiful cities, and
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IPCC 01, Oct. 24-27 in Santa Fe. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/
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