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Subject:Re: Why'd that take so long? From:kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 24 Jul 2002 09:44:25 -0600
At the risk of ruffling some feathers, I gotta ask: Are you sure you're
setting the right priorities?
In your post it seems like you're focusing more on tools, methodology,
fonts, and formatting - everything but the WRITING.
Sounds like they want CONTENT. So write some. Clean it up when you have
time, but for now, it seems like they want you to WRITE.
Maybe I'm reading this wrong; after all, you did say that this doesn't
begin to describe your predicament. But to me it sounds like they want
some doc NOW, and they don't care if it's quick and dirty.
The kind of document overhauling and cleaning-up you're describing are the
sort of thing that would be easier to devote time to if you had a larger
team, or more time. But it sounds like you have neither.
I've been in similar situations. It's frustrating, because you KNOW the
doc could be better than it is. And you know that by putting these formats
and processes in place, you could be laying groundwork that would simplify
your job in the future. But you need to acknowledge both the limitations
you face, and the priorities of your superiors. And to me it sounds like
they want you to "shut up and write." :)
If this is intolerable to you, you should consider looking for another
position. But I've found that every tech writing gig has its downside, and
in my market at least, jobs are scarce. I hope you can work this situation
out. Good luck!
-Keith Cronin
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