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Subject:Re: A sobering encounter (So now what?) From:"Karen L. Zorn" <klzorn -at- zorntech -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 4 Dec 2002 10:37:14 -0700
Krista said:
"In my experience, a tech writer adds real value when he/she saves the
engineers' and product owners' time. {snip} I have a lot of experiences
when writers won't write release notes, for instance. They want the
product owner or an engineer to give them everything they need and then
they'll just format it. My feeling is that if they read the
requirements, the change requests, and the functional specs, they should
be able to write 90% or more of the entire release notes. Then the
developers and product managers will be simply reading a solid draft,
not writing it themselves."
Barb commented:
"Content meaning the ability to parse out important information from web
searches, specifications, marketing materials, SME interviews, and
product use, as well as the ability to learn new technologies very
quickly (almost by osmosis; definitely not by rote). "
Isn't this what the term "research" means? I look at almost every project I
tackle as an ultimate research paper. Not only do I need to inform the
reader as to what the product is, how it work, but also how to use it. Good
research skills are important. And, frankly, that's one part of the job I
really like.
Karen Zorn
Zorn Technologies, Inc.
Mesa, AZ
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