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Elna Tymes wrote, about sudden changes:
>In this particular case, there were apparently some off-calendar meetings I
>didn't know about, because another writer said afterwards that he thought I
knew
>about the changes. None of the developers had thought to invite me. I was
>slightly miffed because the other writer knew I was deeply involved with
>interface stuff, and if he knew major changes were coming he could have at
least
>have said something. Anyway, it's water under the bridge.
This is why I think that it's always a good move for the technical writer
(whatever team they're nominally part of) to be sitting where the developers
are sitting. If you're right there with your ears wide open you *hear*
things like "Oh no, the buzfuz has gone zdatlany, we're going to have to
rewrite three modules!" even if no one makes a point of telling you. And you
notice when all the developers suddenly rush off for mass meetings that
weren't on your calendar. And you can casually stick your head round the
door and inquire "Are these changes going to affect the documentation? Mind
if I sit in?"
Speaking from sad experience (the worst documentation project I was ever
involved with was when I was in a different *building* from the rest of the
development team).
Jane Carnall
Technical Writer, Digital Bridges, Scotland
Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine alone.
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