Re: Recommended software for breaking into technical writing

[Kathi Jan Knill <Kathi -dot- Knill -at- TEMPLATE -dot- COM>]

While I agree with Bev's list of suggestions, I definitely don't
agree with her assessment of Tech Writing.  (I'm not flaming you
Bev, just disagreeing!)

I've been a TW for more years than I can count and I love it!
True sometimes it can get boring, stressful, and even tedious,
but what job doesn't??  I used to be a developer, and I can tell
you that I thought that was boring, stressful, and had more crap
to deal with than anything I've ever come across.  But, that is
just my feeling about development.  Obviously there are others
who don't agree.

So, if you are looking for a change, jump right in and learn what
you need to in order to be successful.  Besides what Bev already
offered, I'd say read as much as you can on current technology
(you don't necessarily have to learn a programming language, just
understand the basic concepts) and stay current.

Good luck.

Kathi Jan Knill
Sr. Technical Writer
Template Software
Kathi -dot- Knill -at- Template -dot- com
You have to do what you love to do,
not get stuck in that comfort zone of
a regular job. Life is not a dress rehearsal.
This is it.

----- Original Message -----
From: Bev Lockhart <bl -at- SEATTLELAB -dot- COM>
To: <TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 1999 4:25 AM
Subject: Re: Recommended software for breaking into technical
writing

> FrameMaker, Robohelp, C++, maybe Viso, and Photoshop (so you
can create and
> minipulate screen shots), and let's see.... how 'bout .... if
you know NT
> and have your MCSE, you are stylin'!  (Oh, and don't forget
Word, the beast
> we all love to hate.)  Those are the bare minimums..... If you
want to get
> into the Web stuff, basic HTML on up through ASP.  (Is that
what it's
> called?)  Yahoo.
>
> Why would you want to get out of journalism?  I've been in
software
> documentation for two years, and I am looking to bail (back
into
> journalism).  Tech writing is the absolutely most boring thing
in the
> world, and I am certainly going to get flamed for this!
>
> If you like looking at the same boring sh... i mean stuff day
after day,
> and dealing with engineers who can't speak clearly (or look at
you askance
> coz you don't understand them) and PMs who are on to the next
product,
> leaving you in the dust to document their product with very
little or no
> input, go baby go!  (Oh, and the stress certainly isn't worth
it... nor is
> the pay as good as everybody claims!)
>
> ~~~Bev Lockhart, Documentation Editor for an awesome (but still
boring)
> software development company
> (originator of the one space two space white space threads)
>
> At 01:22 AM 8/13/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >Forgive me if this topic has been posted before. (I did do an
archive
> >search, but may not have used the appropriate search words.)
> >
> >I'm a newspaper reporter considering a career switch into
technical
> >writing.  What software and/or programming languages do you
recommend I
> >learn?  And if you can prioritize them from "must know" to
"highly
> >recommended," I would appreciate it.
> >
> >I did ask this of a few tech writers, but would like the input
of the
> >broader community considering the expense and time commitment
of
> >acquiring/learning software. Thanks in advance.
> >
>
>================================================================
===========
message.
> >Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
TECHWR-L)
> >Search archives at:
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/archives.htm
> >Check out topic summaries at
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/topics.htm
> >Send all list-related questions or problems to
> >
> >
> >
>
>
=================================================================
==========
> Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
TECHWR-L)
> Search archives at:
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/archives.htm
> Check out topic summaries at
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/topics.htm
> Send all list-related questions or problems to
>
>

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=