RE: This too is technical communication

["Gordon McLean" <Gordon -dot- McLean -at- GrahamTechnology -dot- com>]

"how to keep tech writing tech writing while the tech communicators market
to their natural range of markets"

*sigh*

No.

We are not exclusive beasts, at least I'M not. Just as writing is as
important as technical knowledge, the ability to understand both the product
you are documenting and the marketplace in which it operates (so as to begin
to understand your users) is surely crucial to most?

I realise that some roles require a degree of specific focus, but the
Technical Writer/Communicator (they are the SAME beast) has a range of
skills which apply outside the technical arena.

For example, I am currently planning the rebuild of our intranet. Why?
Because I am an expert in how to plan, structure and deliver information.
Does that make me a "non-technical" writer? Does that mean that, tomorrow,
when I sit down to document our SOAP service, that I won't be able to
because I'm not technical enough? 

Or is it just that I'm lucky to have the opporchancities to delve into other
areas and get my hands dirty helping the company be better at what we do?

Gordon
-------------
www.onemanwrites.co.uk
www.onemanblogs.co.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=grahamtechnology -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=grahamtechnology -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Ned Bedinger
Sent: 31 May 2007 08:37
To: D. Hailey; Techwr-L List
Subject: Re: This too is technical communication

D. Hailey wrote:
> This thread has moved from the breadth of technical communication to 
> how best to position yourself for contributing to the company.

Would that there was another way, eh? But fuzzy is the way topics play out
on a multi-generational, partly political, somewhat official, marginally
professional, mildly recreational free list populated by a questionable
cross section of internet-active pen pals whose opinions may be even less
relevant to tech writing than the posts are to their subjects.

Anyway, I think the point has become how to keep tech writing tech writing
while the tech communicators market to their natural range of markets, and
some of our employers show a talent for finding other sorts of work to
occupy us.

OK, no one would guess that from the subject line.

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