RE: Re: Single Most Valuable Course for Tech Writing

["Darren Barefoot" <darren -at- darrenbarefoot -dot- com>]

Though this is quickly drifting off-topic, let me weigh in in (yikes,
bad structure) favour of acting or singing lessons. Public speaking is
the most common fear in our culture. Yet, in the business world and
elsewhere, it's a fairly vital skill in getting ahead. Whether you're a
database geek or a silviculturist, being able to speak in front of
people will only help your career. Not being able to speak in front of
people will probably harm your career.

While I did complete a theatre/writing double-major in school, my
speciality was in directing, not acting. I had to take a couple of
acting courses (and perform in a few plays), which I didn't particularly
enjoy. However, when you've got to be all "to be or not to be" (no, I
wasn't Hamlet, I'm just speaking metaphorically) in front of a couple
hundred strangers, given a technical talk to thirty geeks doesn't seem
so fraught with difficulty.

The best, most helpful course I've ever taken was a theatre course
called "Design for Non-Designers". It explained (mostly through
practical work) the language of design, and improved my ability to
visualize three-dimensional spaces tremendously. It was the rarest of
university courses--it gave me real insight and taught me things that
were applicable to a whole range of subject matter and professions. DB.

Darren Barefoot
Capulet Communications
Words. Words. Words.
http://www.capulet.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: bounce-techwr-l-124377 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com 
> [mailto:bounce-techwr-l-124377 -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com] On Behalf 
> Of Susan W. Gallagher
> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 12:11 PM
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: Re: Re: Single Most Valuable Course for Tech Writing
> 
> > So I'll ask the group: What single course proved to  be 
> most useful in 
> > your technical writing work?
> 
> Voice.
> 
> It was 1983. I had just landed a job as a software trainer, 
> despite being an actual "white knuckle case" on stage. My 
> husband was attending some classes at the local jr. college
> and kept pestering me to go too. "It'll be fun," he said.
> So I signed up for voice.
> 
> The class format included a group warm-up at the beginning. 
> Then, after the break, each student took a turn performing 
> a solo on stage while the rest of the class critiqued the 
> performance. I ended up taking that class for three 
> semesters! <g>


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