Re: You're SUPPOSED to have good communication skills if you're a tech writer

["Michael West" <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- net -dot- au>]

Mark Baker wrote:

> What is wrong with much tech writing is not that it is poorly expressed
> (which is rare) or that it is technically inaccurate (which is more
common,
> but not epidemic) but that it simply says the wrong thing to the wrong
> person.
>
> Most people know both what to say and how to say it when writing for
someone
> with whom they have much in common. When communicating with someone whose
> knowledge and experience is significantly different from your own, the
> biggest problem is to work out what to say, not how to say it.


I agree with this, but I think it is important to
add that the ability to design and construct an
appropriate, effective information package for
a specific audience is absolutely a key part of
what we mean when we speak of "technical
communications skills."

To go a step further, writing knowledgeably
about a technical subject is of value only insofar
as it serves an audience need. If it doesn't, then
it may as well be gibberish.

--
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia



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