Re: Happy to be a Tech Writer?

Subject: Re: Happy to be a Tech Writer?
From: Mary Arrotti <mary_arrotti -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: Gene Kim-Eng <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, Kevin McLauchlan <kmclauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2007 12:46:21 -0700 (PDT)

There are also writers who work for organizations with many products and who work on everything. So, they could have a broader instead of deeper understanding than the dev, qa, and support folks. Sometimes that's been my experience. People in the other groups may work on or support 1-2 products. So, they have more of a capacity to delve deeply & become more expert in fewer areas.

In this situation, a writer's contribution or specialized knowledge lies more in being able to compare products or functionality within a product. In a meeting for Product A if we're discussing adding a new reporting function - I can identify how we handle reporting for our other products. (Relevant since we want to standardize behavior & UI when possible.) The QA and support people who spend 50% of their time on Product A (vs. my 10%) do know more about Product A. But they may know little about Product B or C.

There are also instances where writers - because of the type of info we write & the way we present the info - may more easily pick up on procedural or UI differences within a specific product.

My deadlines sometimes occur before QA begins to test a specific feature. I wouldn't be the expect on the relevant feature but if I meet with a developer & then share my info/docs with QA or someone who will eventually support the feature - I do become a relative expert. For a brief time anyway :^).

Gene Kim-Eng <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> wrote:
I suspect that many of us who find ourselves in this position
are working in environments where there may not *be*
"Eng-Test and QA and integration support people" who are
separate entities from whatever team the writers report to.....


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin McLauchlan"
> I find it fascinating that a number of you seem to work in companies where
> the writer knows more about the overall product than the Eng-Test and QA and
> integration support people.

---------------------------------
Looking for earth-friendly autos?
Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


References:
Re: Happy to be a Tech Writer?: From: Gene Kim-Eng

Previous by Author: RE: Problem Co-worker
Next by Author: Re: Write out numbers -- or not?
Previous by Thread: Re: Happy to be a Tech Writer?
Next by Thread: Re: Happy to be a Tech Writer?


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


Sponsored Ads