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: One more thought on "Fast" and "Slow" Writers From:letoured -at- together -dot- net To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 11 Jul 2002 22:29:26 -0400
In <2CE76865CAD2D411A42F00508BDCD11FDD46BA -at- GLNEXCHSV005>, on 07/11/02
at 11:13 AM, "Kight, Cindy K." <Cindy -dot- Kight -at- Gilbarco -dot- com> said:
You and the other software writers don't get it. Its not having more time --
its not taking more time because its available -- it has nothing to do with
personality or style.
Its taking more time because its **necessary** It has nothing to do with
diminishing returns. People writing in areas beyond software have to think
about and address -- they have to see and foresee things -- that software
writers never even have to think about about.
That is what takes more time. That is why you go slow and carefully.
>
>I've been giving this subject some more thought and have something to add.
>Let's say I have 1000 hours to work on a given project and that is an
>appropriate amount of time for me to do it properly. Given 1200 hours, maybe
>I could improve on the quality. (Although I'd probably add a tutorial or
>something instead.) However, there is the concept of diminishing returns,
>and at some point adding time to the project would provide no further
>increase in quality.
>However, there are writers who, given 1200 hours or more, could not produce
>the same quality work that I can do in 1000 hours. Likewise, I'm sure there
>are writers who could do better work than I can, in less time.
>I think we got off track and ended up debating about what it takes to do
>professional work, where the original post concerned differences in work
>style and personality between writers.
>If presented with an unreasonable deadline, I'd negotiate for more time or
>more resources. I don't believe anywhere here is advocating doing an
>unprofessional job.
-----------------------------------------------------------
letoured -at- together -dot- net
-----------------------------------------------------------
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Save $600: Create great-looking Help files and software demos with
RoboHelp Deluxe. Get RoboHelp and RoboDemo - our new demo software - for one
low price. OR Save $100 on RoboHelp Office in June with our mail-in rebate.
Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.
---
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.