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RE: Is technical writing a sellout or fallback career?
Subject:RE: Is technical writing a sellout or fallback career? From:"Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com> To:"Technical Writer" <tekwrytr -at- hotmail -dot- com>, <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:58:36 -0700
tekwrytr said, "'Writing skills' may be overrated; it is the
comprehension of the reader or user that matters most, not the writing
skill of the writer. Because comprehension is paramount, the ability to
transfer knowledge takes precedent over almost every other
consideration."
This is a false dichotomy. One of the things I learned in one of my
first rhetoric in writing classes (many years ago) is that the skill of
the writer is defined only by his ability to communicate his message
(tone, register, AND content) to his intended audience. In other words,
there is no such thing as a "skilled writer" who can't "transfer
knowledge". Conversely, anyone who excels at transferring knowledge in
writing is, by definition, a skilled writer.
tekwrytr also said, "Certification strongly indicates competency in
action, rather than just words."
This too is a false dichotomy in some domains. In technical writing, the
words are the action.
My point is that we don't need to get stuck in either/or. Writing talent
is good. Certification is good. Academic education is good. All three
together are impressive. However, while a writer must be talented to be
good at technical writing, you will find many good technical writers
whose ability ultimately comes from neither certification nor academic
education in either technology or English.
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