TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: TECHWR-L considered harmful From:brianlindgren -at- aol -dot- com To:neilson -at- windstream -dot- net, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:48:55 -0500
Sometimes people don't set out to be tech writers but have it thrust upon them by upper management. I find that very often managers don't understand the value of a good technical writer, or they certainly don't know how to hire, presuming that anyone who majored in either English or journalism would by default be a technical writing candidate.
I think the "worthless" crop went out in the mid-1990s. When PCs became essential tools on everyone's desktop in the 1989-1994 era, the value of tech writers went down because as the word processor began to disappear, management thought anyone with a PC was a writer. Soon afterwards came the realization that technical communication has a certain skillset and value.
Nonetheless, there are still those who are tasked to do it unwittingly or unwillingly. I see this list as just one means to help such individuals -- as well as others who just want an occasional?sanity check.
-----Original Message-----
From: neilson -at- windstream -dot- net
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Sent: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 8:33 am
Subject: TECHWR-L considered harmful
Occasionally someone who should have been doing something
else is assigned the task of writing or revising the
documentation. The somewhat less clueless of these people
will discover TECHWR-L and ask our subscribing multitude
for help. We writers, being generous (as well as easily
distracted from our appointed projects) leap to the rescue.
Are we actually doing the right thing? Or are we merely
creating more of those annoying people who believe they are
tech writers but are mostly worthless?
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
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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
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You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
