Re: Where did you get your feet wet?

[HBacheler -at- aol -dot- com]

Hi, All,

I started as a teletype operator  in the US Air Force.  Wrote some procedures 
- SOP's - depending on  different assignments.

The USAF offered me the opportunity to become a  communication systems 
programmer, and that is where it began.  Program  control for six locations, 
distributing 'patches' and verifying that the code  worked.

Began programming, and having to document the code, both in the  code and 
formal documentation.  Researched comm systems and wrote  feasibility studies for 
modifications.  Developed new software, documented  the code, and provided 
installation instructions and users  guides.

Developed training course material, taught the classes, revised  material 
based on new information.  Reviewed existing training materials  and made 
appropriate changes.  Conducted training and revised material  based on course 
suggestions.  

Developed documentation plans and  wrote many of the required documents. 
Acted as mentor to new writers, assisted  in developing style guides, 
indoctrinated other writers in the use of the style  guide.

I have had no formal training in the Technical Writing  field.  Just a lot of 
On-the-Job-Training. (OJT).

I have used COBOL  line editors, CPT word processors, UNIX nroff/troff 
functions, MS Word (since  Version 2 for DOS), WordPerfect, Lotus AmiPro, and others.

Do you need to  have formal training, yes, but not always.  It would have 
helped me, but I  had to 'learn by doing', and get a lot of 'red-lined' writing 
before I began to  get none.

In most cases I was the only one who was available.   

Sink or Swim - that has been my experience.  I have also had the  opportunity 
to work with. or associate with other technical writers, such as  those on 
this list, and learned a lot.

Sincerely,

Harry M.  Bacheler, Jr.
Consultant
Jack of all trades, Master of several  


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