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: Innate Talents, etc. From:Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 3 May 1995 20:47:42 PDT
> It does not take a Communications or Engineering degree to make
> a good Technical Writer. It takes the equivalent of both AND the
> INNATE talent to write to be a real TechWriter. Ya either got it or
> you don't . . .
This is the Age of Science. Kindly suggest a mechanism, or pony
up some evidence, that writing ability is somehow intrinsic, and
unaffected by training and experience. Because, if it is, it's
unlike every other "natural ability" ever studied.
Personally, I find assumptions about "innate abilities" to be divisive
and dismissive. I've seen people who "can't sing" turn into wonderful
singers; people who, like Barbie, find that "math is hard" turn into
scientists and engineers; and people who "can't write" develop into
excellent writers.
What's so horrifying about the idea that people can learn?
-- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon * Writer * robert -at- plamondon -dot- com * (408) 321-8771
4271 North First Street, #106 * San Jose * California * 95134-1215
"Writing is like plumbing -- even people who know how to do it will
pay top dollar to keep their hands clean."
