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Re: 10 Things All Technical Writers Should Do

Subject: Re: 10 Things All Technical Writers Should Do
From: Dick Margulis <margulisd -at- comcast -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 05:15:56 -0500




Someone wrote:


[snip]


8. Good writing is 5-10% fonts, styles, and grammar and 90-95% brain-numbing,
keyboard pecking, intellectually draining drudgery. If this ratio tilts to
high to the fonts and styles side, you're probably not focusing on the right
things.

Good writing is zero percent fonts and styles (as in paragraph styles), and if you have to put 5% of your effort into thinking about grammar or style (as in writing style), this may not be the field for you. Good _communication_ and good teamwork require some thought about design and a minimal amount of effort to apply paragraph styles; these are often parts of the job that the writer agrees to do. But they are not the writing part of the job. Nonetheless, if good writing is 90-95% intellectually draining drudgery, you may have less aptitude for writing than you think you have; and, in any case, you might be happier in a different career.


9. Results are more important than plans.

Bingo! That is the heart of the matter.

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References:
10 Things All Technical Writers Should Do: From: Andrew Plato

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