Re: Tech Writing Problems

[Caryn Rizell <caryn -at- HPPTC95 -dot- ROSE -dot- HP -dot- COM>]

Lori:

I think you are going to need a face-to-face meeting with the
programmer to go over the document.  In my experience, it
is a lot easier to get comments in person rather than on
paper.

As a thread about SME's mentioned a while back, programmers
and programmer types don't like to write.  It is much easier
for them to verbalize than to communicate in writing.

So, I would suggest you set up an appointment and make
the 100 mile drive or arrange for a telephone conversation.

You might want to couch it in the terms "I have a few questions
and need your advice", rather than "Could you review
this document?"

Just some thoughts.

Caryn Rizell
caryn -at- hpptc95 -dot- rose -dot- hp -dot- com


> I'm writing a user's guide for a software product that's being developed
> for a government agency.  The development team is small:  one programmer,
> one SME, the contract manager, and me.  The programmer and I both live in
> Colorado, but we're separated by about 100 miles (and the Continental
> Divide!); the SME and the contract manager are in DC.  If you've already
> guessed that the problem has something to do with communication, you're
> right.

> The problem:  getting the programmer to answer the questions in my first
> draft.  I made my questions as conspicuous as possible; they are
> sprinkled throughout the text in thick-lined boxes and the words
> "DEVELOPMENT NOTES" centered on the first line of each box).  When I gave
> him a call today (after not hearing from him since giving him the draft
> two weeks ago), his response to my request for feedback was, "Oh, it's
> great!  Just what we needed!"  I then asked him if he could respond to the
> questions I'd written as DEVELOPMENT NOTES throughout the draft.  His
> response was, "Ah, well, um, questions?  Can I call you back tomorrow?"
> I'd be willing to bet my bottom dollar that he won't call me back
> tomorrow.

> I *will* get him to provide the answers I need; however, I'll probably
> have to get the contract manager to rattle his cage.  I hate having to
> resort to that strategy, even tho' it's an effective one.

> There!  I feel better now with that off my chest ....

> *************************************************************************
> Lori Lathrop ----------> INTERNET:76620 -dot- 456 -at- compuserve -dot- com
> Lathrop Media Services, P.O. Box 808, Georgetown, CO  80444
> (Author of _An Indexer's Guide to the Internet_, published by the
> American Society of Indexers, P.O. Box 386, Port Aransas, TX  78383)
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