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It seems to me like this discussion is bringing us back to the eternal question: "Do you have to know a field to write about it?". It seems to me that our eternal answer is that it depends what you write about and who your audience is.
Personally, as I am a SME in computing, I would not like to write about biomed as I love what I do because I can bring insights to projects, not just research and write. If tomorrow I found myself in a position where I could not write about software or hardware projects, I would rather move into the analyst's, trainer's or developer's chair than into a biomed tech writer's chair. But then again, my strength is in WHAT I KNOW more than HOW I WRITE... I do not even get to write in my first language.
I guess you guys all know what your own strengths are.
France Baril
Rédactrice Technique / Technical Writer
IXIASOFT
(514) 279-4942
france -dot- baril -at- ixiasoft -dot- com
Ce qui se conçoit bien s'énonce clairement, et les mots pour le dire viennent aisément. (Boileau)