Re: Getting starting in tech writing...

[Dawn-Marie Oliver <Dawn-Marie -at- CONCUR -dot- COM>]

I started out life as an English education major.  After two
years of struggling against the constraints of the literary
canon/cabal, I changed my major to computer science.  I
quickly discovered I had an aptitude for programming, but
absolutely no interest in doing so as a career.

After a bit of talking, I decided to stay in the CS degree
program, but to also get my emphasis in writing.  I took
the two technical writing courses available to me (this was
in northern Minnesota, at a small college), plus poetry, essay,
and fiction writing.  I wanted to work in the software
industry, and one instructor encouraged me.  He had worked in
the software industry, and said that if I knew some of the
inner workings of the software, it would help me translate
to user-speak and create effective documentation.

After graduation, I set my sights on a job in Seattle.  My first
job was as a UNIX system administrator, with some writing
(but I received my first "lesson", when I was told any writing
wanted to do for the company had to be on my own time, after my
40 clock hours).  After a year, I inquired around the company
(a DOE contractor), and managed to snag a technical writing
position on a software team.  I've been writing manuals, help,
training, and doing some testing ever since.

To me, my CS education is invaluable.  It allows me to interview
my developers with confidence; I know the questions I must ask.
I've been doing this six years, and have been very happy and
successful.  I continue to take both writing and programming
seminars and the like to keep up my improvement.

Just my 2 francs worth.

        Dawn-Marie Oliver

        --My opinions are mine, and my employer and I are quite
          happy about the separation of my opinions and theirs.




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