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: TW vs. creativity From:Chris Daunhauer <cdaunhauer -at- LSIJAX -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 1 Aug 1997 13:43:34 -0400
I'd like to take issue with Steven Jong concerning his advice that:
----------
> . . . .if you want to write creatively, starting from a blank page
(screen), then write novels.
Technical writing is indeed creative. It is creative in that it balances
needs with expectations, develops and markets solutions to often complex
problems, and happens as a result of collaboration with others .
Our field is too often maligned by those who hold with Richard Vanderweigh
(sp?) calls the conveyor belt model. That is-nerds in white lab coats
working in a "sterile" environment turning out neat little packages of most
often useless instructions on why the sky is blue.
I've often though it would be much easier to write novels than doc. Less
restrained by budgets, facts, tool problems, ethics questions, undocumented
features, updates and patches, audience expectations, looming release
dates, etc. etc.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
