Re: Training a new writer

[Iggy <iggy_1996dp -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

> Currently I have her learning our template by taking
> docs that are in our old template and transferring
> them to the new one.  I am also having her go
> through
> some Quick Reference Cards I made up that explains
> how
> to use the template, the styles included in the
> template, along with the standards used by the
> group. 

I wouldn't have taken this as a first step. Templates
won't mean squat to her without knowing how and why
they are used - you need to get her thinking like a
writer. Go over procedures and documents you have
written and explain the construction, why it is
constructed so, and explain the level of detail and
"angle" you're providing. THEN show her how to do the
same.

It'll be a crash course and there will definitely be
cleanup. Is this person enthusiastic about the task or
would she rather be doing something else?

I wouldn't expect the worst, but not the best either.
But if you stress the need to get useful, accurate
info down on paper and explain how best to do it, I
think she'll be off to a good start. Hell, she should
already know something about usability (being a
trainer)... have her adapr that to writing instead of
testing. After all, you both have very similar job
functions. Writers learn how to do something and
explain it to others in the best way possible to make
the overall product better. Testers learn the product
and then beat it to death like someone who doesn't
know how to use it (or does and wants to "open it up"
for a road test) and then recommends fixes and
isolates problems. There's a definite cross-over there
to harness.

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