RE: Teaching a writing class for co-workers

["Anameier, Christine A - Eagan, MN" <CANAMEIE -at- email -dot- usps -dot- gov>]

In response to Ashley's question, Keith wrote:
"Basically, I'd teach them how to provide you with editable information.
Give them a checklist of what kind of information you need, and then
pour
your energies into editing their work in such a way as to show how much
difference a REAL writer can make. Don't waste time training them to
compete with you; instead, teach them to facilitate your job."

I'll second that.

Often I work on small internal documents that begin as "drafts" prepared
by my subject matter experts. Almost invariably, I rewrite the
drafts--move stuff around, add material, delete material, modify the
focus... tear apart and rebuild, basically. I would rather they NOT
spend a lot of time and energy on wordsmithing their material, because
it would only make them more territorial about it. 

Last month one of my SMEs wrote me an email that included this
observation: "As always, I give you coal, and you turn it into a
diamond." 

Christine


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Buy or upgrade to RoboHelp X3 today and receive the WebHelp
Merge Module for FREE ($299 value). RoboHelp X3's all-new
features include conditional text, completely re-engineered
printed documentation output, Context-sensitive Help Toolkit,
single-source layouts, and more!
Order online today at 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.