RE: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style)

["Marguerite Krupp" <mkrupp -at- cisco -dot- com>]

Well, here we go with the "programmers can't write thread," version 10.6.x.

OK, when I first made the conversion from system programmer to tech writer,
eons ago, I documented the way the program worked. That was what we did back
then. That's what programmers are STILL supposed to do.... We call that
writing specs.

As a writer, I learned that USERS generally wanted to know HOW TO USE THE
PRODUCT. How it worked was entirely secondary to most of them.

Hmmm. As a programmer, I was a good writer. As a tech writer (etc.), I'm a
better writer, in part because I do it more, in part because my
understanding and experience has grown.

Some programmers/engineers/bankers/technicians/etc. write well. Some don't.

We tech writers are paid to write well and to understand both the technology
and our users.

OK, this is a bit of a rant. Gotta go back to work.

Marguerite



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