RE: Training inclusion of TWs

[Stephen McDermott <Stephen -dot- McDermott -at- PREMERA -dot- com>]

Charles Incharge [mailto:writerhero_02 -at- hotmail -dot- com]  laments:

> "I have never had training with this employer. Part of it may be the
slowdown 
> in the economy, but the other part of it is that writers truly are the red

> headed bastards we think we are..."

1.  To be blunt, Did you ask to be included?  On an ancient contract, I was
on the fringe of the software issues (others were documenting software, I
was involved with documenting the company engineering practices).  I asked
for training and access to this software and it was immediately granted...
Turns out I was the ONLY writer to get training and access, even though
others were documenting its features, operation, capabilities, etc.  

2.  If you have a business need, ask nicely first, and move gradually to
demand (within reason).  You might still be able to attend/complete the
training.

3.  General: Could the problem be that a common (mis)perception exists among
our employers that we (techwriters), as a group, learn more quickly than
other professions.  This is a selling point for tech writers coming into
"documentation challenged" organizations (i.e., no tech writers in the
company/industry), but hurts us when it comes to us needing formal training.

Steve McDermott  



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