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Subject:RE: What Are Writing Skills? From:"Victoria Nuttle" <vnuttle -at- bridgeport-networks -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 21 Feb 2005 13:15:38 -0600
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Markos
Subject: What Are Writing Skills?
> Just out of curiosity, what is meant by "writing
skills"? I mean, grammar aside, if the TW knows the
product and the users, he/she is going to be able to
write user friendly documentation about it. If not,
nothing is going to save him/her. Isn't the real need
analysis skills - not writing skills?
This is why I don't like the word "writer" for technical writer. You
put "writer" on there and many people will assume that you're just a
wordsmith, and your profession is all about the English degree.
I don't see it as "writing skills", I see it as "communication skills"
(and I prefer "technical communicator", in case anyone wondered). It is
about analysis of the information, but it also involves analysis of the
more effective way to communicate that information to others. Part of
communication is effective writing, but there is much more involved than
an encyclopedic knowledge of a college English textbook.
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