RE: Technical Writer or Documentation Writer?

["Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>]

"Documentation writer"?  I've been a business plan writer, FSR writer,
proposal writer, business analyst, business letter writer, resume writer,
fincancial report writer, and technical writer.  Technically speaking, all
of those jobs can be under the umbrella "documentation writer," but they are
not all jobs of a technical writer.  A technical writer can prepare other
forms of documentation, but not necessarily all forms of documentation.
"Documentation writer" to me is vague and repetitive.  What other forms of
writers does your business have that do not prepare documents?  Certainly, a
person who prepares reports in Crystal Reports can be called a Crystal
Reports writer, but those people are usually developers.

I wouldn't accept the title "documentation writer."  "Supreme Dictator of
the Documentation Universe," maybe, but not documentation writer.  I am a
"Technical Writer" when my primary job is to prepare documents that focus on
the technical aspects of something, like systems or processes, rather than
the business aspects, like marcom and financial documents. 

Your title should be appropriate for your job.  How varied is the
documentation that you produce?  Are you preparing many types of documents
that are outside the scope of IT?

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lauren=writeco -dot- net -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> ] On Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
> Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 9:29 AM
> To: Techwr-l
> Subject: Technical Writer or Documentation Writer?
> 
> I've heard myself and what I do here referred to in different ways. 
> 
>  
> 
> Coworkers might not know what a "technical writer" does, but they all
> nod when they hear the word "documentation writer."
> 
>  
> 
> Opinions?
> 
>  
> 
>  -- Craig
> 
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> 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
> 
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
> 
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as lauren -at- writeco -dot- net -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/lauren%40wr
> iteco.net
> 
> 
> 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.
> 

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

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

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! 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.