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Subject:Re: Term "tech writing" From:David Dubin <David_Dubin -at- NOTES -dot- PW -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 28 Mar 1995 16:46:10 PST
When one asks me what I do for a living, I tell them I am a writer. When
asked what I write, I reply, "I write books that no one ever reads." S/he
who has asked smiles and then says, "Oh you must be a technical writer."
Actually, I tell people that I am an information systems designer. In
addition to my responsibilities as the department's technical writer, I am
also the tech editor, graphic artist, tech illustrator, copy writer,
presentation designer and training support specialist.
I think that the title technical writer is too often misused and really does
not describe the work that one actually does. I also do not think that
technical communicator accurately captures the realm of many of our
responsibilities. Therefore, I use info systems designer. As we move into the
era of true electronic publishing, we, as writers, are really designing both
the structure and the interface that the reader sees.
david dubin -at- notes -dot- pw -dot- com
This has been one man's opinion, yours may vary with mileage, age, or
disposition.
