TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:RE: How to fend off a tech writer From:jgarison -at- ide -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 9 May 2002 17:33:07 -0400
There are stupid questions, usually asked by stupid people.
If I as a writer on a project, do not read the spec, do not check out the
code, and instead go to one of the developers and say "Can you tell me what
this thing is all about?" I am an idiot asking a stupid question.
If, on the other hand, I read the spec, I try out the code, and I go to one
of the developers and ask "I was checking out the latest build, and I see
that the Frammis function is done slightly different than the spec, and I
see it's more like what XYZ Corp (a competitor) is doing - are you gonna do
that in the other 15 places where it appears too?" I am asking an
intelligent question, a question that shows I have done my homework, a
question that shows I am aware, and I am thinking.
If you were the developer in the above situation, which tech writer would
you welcome, and which would you avoid?
My 2¢,
John
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Free copy of ARTS PDF Tools when you register for the PDF
Conference by April 30. Leading-Edge Practices for Enterprise
& Government, June 3-5, Bethesda,MD. www.PDFConference.com
Buy RoboHelp Office in May and you'll save $100 with our mail-in rebate.
Or switch from Doc-to-Help or ForeHelp to RoboHelp Office for only $499.
Get the help authoring tool PC magazine recently awarded a perfect score!
Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.