RE: Technical editing vs. technical writing (was: playing with ma rbles, or some such thing)

[Jason Willebeek-LeMair <jlemair -at- cisco -dot- com>]

Interesting thought from Doug:

"Would you change all, some, or none of what you said, if one called
themselves a technical *editor," as opposed to a technical writer*?"

(This was in regards to font frolicking vs content coagulation.)

I think this is where we start getting into the levels of edit.

Here is what I (personal opinion warning) like to see from a technical edit:

1. Grammar/vocabulary/punctuation, etc. edits.  You know, the mechanics.

2. Content edits.  Making sure that when I use widget on page three, I do
not call it a thingamabob on page 23.  Making sure that after I fall asleep
in my cubicle I pick up my thoughts and continue to travel in the same
direction.  Making sure that I do not refer to IP as a group of magical
creatures that cause spam to appear in my inbox.

For this part, I want a TECHNICAL technical editor.  One who is cabable of
using the technology, or at least understanding it.  (I have horror stories
of helpful non-technical technical editors completely hosing information
then dismissing it with a "Well, I am more of a word person"  Fine for #1
above.  Not fine for #2, becuse the non-technical editor would have no idea
if thingamabob and widget referred to the same or to different things).

3.  Production Edits. This is the font fondling, table tweaking, two-page
spread spreading, widow and orphan consoling, space spacing, etc. 

This can be done by the Technical Editor, or it can be done by the
Production Editor.  I have worked in places where both types of editors were
present.  

I feel the need for a matrix:

                                  Technical     Production 
            Writer     Editor     Editor        Editor
----------------------------------------------------------------
Content   |
Creation  |
          |
Language  |
Mechanics |
          |
Content   |
Edits     |
          |
Production| 
Edits     |
------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please imagine the rest of the lines in the matrix)

Anyway, every organization is different. In some, one person performs all
tasks. In others, the tasks are broken out by role, sometimes with the roles
combined, such as a writer doing the content creation and production work,
while the editor does the language and content edits.

So, it depends. Can a technical editor be less technical than the writer?
Sure, but in that case, it would fall back on the writer to do the content
editing

In my fantasy pubs group that would not be the case. The editor would be the
smartest person in the group, know everything, and treat the writer like a
puppy, dispensing cookies and belly rubs at random. Hey, this is my fantasy.
You don't like it, get your own.

Jason

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Want to support TECHWR-L? Get shirts, bags, hats, clocks,
and more from the TECHWR-L Store. All proceeds support TECHWR-L. 
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/store/store.aspx?storeid=techwhirl

Save up to 50% with RoboHelp Deluxe. Get 2 great products for 1 low price!
You'll get RoboHelp Office PLUS RoboDemo, the software demonstration tool
that everyone's been talking about. Check it out and save!
http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

---
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.