Tech Writing Skills

[Bob Handlin 1331 <BHandlin -at- CHIPCOM -dot- COM>]

>On Mon, 30 Jan 1995, Timothy Schablin wrote:

>> I'd prefer the writing skills (and creativity) over technical expertise.
>>
>> but that could depend on the type of project.
>>

Rosie Crowe responded:

>..I cannot find much use for a writer without a love for
>and an aptitude with technology.  A writer who is a technophobe
>is handicapped in the field of tech writing, and these writers
>drag down the field as much as do the technical-apt-but-unschooled-
>in-writing writers...

AMEN!!  Writers who hang their professional hats solely on the fact that
they have outstanding writing skills are a discredit to those of us who work
hard to have the entire package.

Simple truth:  This profession, done well, requires a broader range of
skills than almost any other I can think of.  If you're a tekkie who can't
write, or a writer who can't "tech,"  please don't argue that the employers
are wrong-headed in their approach.  Go out and get the skills that they're
asking for!!!  That way, when I inherit one of your projects, I won't have
to spend the first two months convincing the project team that I am, in
fact, willing to learn how the product works (or worse, spend two months
implementing an intense structure edit, as a direct result of someone else's
poor writing).

As arrogant as that may sound to some, I think it's the key to us getting
the professional respect we've all been longing for.  As it stands, we do a
job that's more difficult than software development (IMHO) and get paid a
lot less.

Later,

Bob
bhandlin -at- chipcom -dot- com