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I am attempting to articulate the definitive baseline set of skills a
technical writer should have, apart from anything industry-specific. I'm
curious to survey what my colleagues think about this.
Tony Markatos responds:
I recently reviewed several books that supposedly explain "what a Technical
Writer" does. None where able to identify the main things that need to be
done. The common explanation - "Research, organize, design, etc." - does not
identify the main things that need to be done.
Below is my definition. I don't think you will not find another definition
that so "hits the nail on the head".
Following it, the primary skills required are described. Here also, you
will not find any other like statement.
WHAT A TECHNICAL WRITER NEEDS TO DO.
The primary things that must be done to create clear and concise
documentation is to get a rigorous understanding of:
1.) The essential end-user tasks accomplished using the product and how all
of those tasks interrelate. Especially important is understanding the
interrelationships.
2.) The essential data relationships.
PRIMARY SKILLS REQUIRED
The ability to perform (often) difficult analysis and then, as the situation
dictates, switch mental-gears and become very people oriented (read: a
strong negotiator). The ability to "switch mental-gears" is the crux of it
all. Many have excellent analytical skills. Many have good people skills.
Very few have the ability to frequently switch back-and-forth between the
two mind-sets involved.
Tony Markatos
(tonymar -at- hotmail -dot- com)
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