Re: Technical writers

[Jeffrey Osier-Mixon <jefro -at- jefro -dot- net>]

I write both technical and mar-com stuff.  They are completely different 
activities---the goals are different, and the audience is different.  
For me at least, the goal of technical writing is organization and 
integrity to support customers, i.e. to provide complete and correct 
information about a product in a way that the customer finds easy to 
use.  The goal of marketing writing is to generate leads that will 
become customers.  Magazine articles are yet another different animal.

As to which is more difficult, for me it really depends on the day, how 
much coffee I have had, etc.  I find myself continually claiming that I 
stink at marketing writing, but the company likes what I do.  I am more 
comfortable with technical writing (after 13 years) but it is healthy to 
stretch a little.


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