Re: Definition of Tech Writer, was STC is broken

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

Peoples' sense of identity regarding their work is inseparably
tied to what they do and what they are called.  Tell writers
who identify as technical writers and write about banking
procedures that what they do is not technical writing, and you
have told them that they are not technical writers and are not
entitled to their identities, including the job titles that they have
worked to qualify for. Imagine for a moment that I proposed a
definition for the role of technical writer that excluded what you
do, whether you think it's technical writing or not.  Did you
really think you could do that to someone else without starting
a controversy?

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>

> I responded to one post that stated business writing and technical 
> writing
> are not mutually exclusive and controversy ensued when I argued that 
> the two
> writing classes are not the same.  I was never involved in the 
> discussion of
> job titles.
>
> I certainly do not think that a discussion about the type of writing 
> that a
> technical writer can write with a sub-discussion about the differences
> between business writing and technical writing is irrelevant.  But to
> discuss that a type of writing derives its classification from the job 
> title
> of the writer is nonsense.  Job titles are derived from the work that 
> is
> performed.  Discussions about classes of writing are relevant to 
> discussions
> about the job titles of writers.

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