Re: on technical writers & fiction

Subject: Re: on technical writers & fiction
From: Mysti Rubert <ms_t -at- pacbell -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 11:18:25 -0700


One of the problems, IMHO, is that technical writers write and edit at the same time (because you never know if a piece is going to get a proper edit! at least that's how it feels).

Fiction writers need to wear those caps at different times, especially
during the first draft. Most of my technical writing could go out on first draft with a quick copy edit. Most of my ficiton writing needs a lot of work, because the editor in my head has to nap while I'm creating. It took me years to teach her to nap while I need access to

I seem unable to write about technical subjects in fiction, however.
My tech writer just takes over :)

I like David's point that you gotta know what you are writing about.
I humbly suggest that you also have to understand the form, structure,
function and purpose of the different "genres." In tech writing, and to
a certain degree screenwriting, use as few words, as short a words, and as invisible a voice as possible. The opposite can be true of fiction, and all the other millions of differences too, such as, in tech writing,
you want the reader to intuit your intent, your structure, be able to guess where in a doc things might be. In fiction you lie, cheat, and obfuscate to carefully control reader response and keep them guessing, hopefully one step behind, until the very end.

I know the consumers of our tech writin' output often feel this way, but they ain't supposed to :)

Mysti

David Downing wrote:


In retrospect, a lot of the reasons editors gave me for rejecting my
work were probably suggesting I was better suited for technical writing.
I was too insistent on explaining things. I was good at describing
objects and event, but not at creating sympathetic characters and
evoking real human emotions.



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Free copy of ARTS PDF Tools when you register for the PDF
Conference by April 30. Leading-Edge Practices for Enterprise
& Government, June 3-5, Bethesda,MD. www.PDFConference.com

Are you using Doc-to-Help or ForeHelp? Switch to RoboHelp for Word for $249
or to RoboHelp Office for only $499. Get the PC Magazine five-star rated
Help authoring tool for less! Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.



References:
RE: on technical writers: From: David Downing

Previous by Author: About offsite reviewers
Next by Author: RE: Poll suggestion: Lurkers
Previous by Thread: RE: on technical writers
Next by Thread: Re: on technical writers


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads