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: Framemaker required From:Kent Newton <KentN -at- METRIX-INC -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 20 Mar 1996 06:54:00 PST
On Tuesday, March 19, 1996 11:24 PM, Richard Mateosian quoted this
unattributed quote:
>>Why do people think *anyone* can be a writer? Why does my boss pay
>>our contract desktop publishers more than our contract writers?
And then he offered these thoughts:
>Those sound like the wrong questions to me.
>Are you happy with the recognition and remuneration you receive?
>If yes, don't worry about what others get paid. Relax and enjoy your
job.
>If no, ask for everything you want. Then be ready to negotiate. If you
can't
>reach an agreement you feel good about, find someplace else to ply your
>trade. Don't sell yourself short. ...RM
He quotes two questions, but only addresses the second, which, in my
opinion, is the less important of the two. I agree with the original
writer in wondering why people think that *anyone* can write. Granted,
not all employers fall into that category, but a large portion of the ads
I see run along these lines:
Full Time Technical Writer Position Available. Experience with [tool of
choice] required.
No mention is made of research or writing skills. You'd think they would
at least add something like "Experience writing [type of manual]
required."
Kent Newton
Senior Technical Writer
Metrix, Inc.
kentn -at- metrix-inc -dot- com