RE: Help for a new tech writer

["Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>]

Perhaps because you are new to tech writing, the idea that keeps popping
into my head is safety. Be sure to be proactive in finding out ...

*         what can go wrong

*         how people might get hurt

*         how equipment or product might be damaged

 

If you do end up with many relatively short processes (as Gene
suggested) and most processes do not happen in isolation, be sure to
include the current process' relationship to upstream process and
downstream dependencies. As Al suggests, photos, illustrations, and
process flow diagrams will probably be essential. To the extent that you
can communicate clearly pictographically along with or instead of with
words, that would be the way to go. 

 

Leonard C. Porrello

SoleraTec LLC

www.soleratec.com

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Al Geist
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:44 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Help for a new tech writer

 

Go for it. You don't need a specialist. All you need is the ability to

describe processes and interview effectively. You already said that most
of

the information is in your bosses head. Drain his (her) brain. Diagram
out

the process flow. As Paul Kretschmer said, get a digital camera for
those

processes that are already in place. Write up your drafts and run them
by

your boss. It may take a few tries, but pretty soon you'll be providing
what

he wants....and after all, he signs the paychecks.

 

Al Geist

Technical Writing, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography

Office/Msg: 802-872-9091

Cell: 802-578-3964

Website: www.geistassociates.com

See Also:

Fine Art Photography

Website: www.geistimages.com

 

"...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a
pilgrim

without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each

day." (Anon.)

 

 

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