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Subject:Re: What Are Writing Skills? From:Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Mon, 21 Feb 2005 14:12:25 -0500
> 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?
Good question!
I'd say you're on the right track, IMO. Proper grammar and CMS-perfect
composition are wasted on the intellectuals, which are the strong
minority in the world of consumer/business products.
You need to write well enough to not look like an uber-ape. I'd say
that analytical skills are key, the ability to communicate info to
thers is key, and the ability to manage the demands with which you're
tasked within project lifecycles are the key elements for the job. Oh,
and of course technical aptitude, but that should fall within the
bounds of analytical skills.
You can be the best darn writer the world has ever seen but if you
can't get under the hood to understand and explain the doohickey
you're documenting, and you can't manage your work within a project
cycle, you're useless.
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