TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for technicalwriter?
Subject:Re: What do you guys think of STCs new definition for technicalwriter? From:"Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"Sean Brierley" <sbrierley -at- accu-time -dot- com> Date:Tue, 27 May 2008 14:17:14 -0400
And if you can't explain it in the simplest of terms then what good is
the definition in the first place?
And to use the "daddy writes books" example, how many books about
careers have you read to your kids over the years? How many books
about scientists, doctors, and other more complex fields? They're not
in depth, they don't use big words, and yet they get the definition
across well to their audience - kids.
I'm not saying let's go out and write a children's book, but if the
definition isn't easy to write in plain common language, then it
doesn't work.
Funny, don't we say the same thing about bad UI design? If it's a pain
to document, then it's likely poorly designed?
On Tue, May 27, 2008 at 1:58 PM, Sean Brierley <sbrierley -at- accu-time -dot- com> wrote:
> To be fair, this needs to be more than "daddy writes books." <grin>
>
> That is, I am fine writing this for a professional audience, but the
> definition itself must itself be a *good* example of technical
> communication.
--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-