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I will attest to this. I was hired a month and a half ago here as the lone tech writer; and I was supposed to create a style guide.
I have three pages completed because I keep getting more and more work. I created a down and dirty template that I use for everything and on the moments when I can actually breath; I work on the style guide.
This week? I got a paragraph completed before I had an emergency fix for someone that had to be in an hour ago.
~ Heather
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+heather -dot- anderson=cubrc -dot- org -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+heather -dot- anderson=cubrc -dot- org -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of David Neeley
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 3:46 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Lone Tech Writer
Regarding the suggestion to "first create a style guide"--
I have yet to see a situation where a person was hired to be a lone
tech writer where there was not already a fairly high stack of work
waiting. Often, one or two product releases pending with tight
deadlines for producing docs--and anything left by someone who either
left or was terminated, or created by non-writers, often in need of
substantial rework.
Even in larger organizations, creation of a style guide is often very
low on the list of priorities, from what I have seen and experienced.
If there is time in between other tasks considered more pressing,
fine. If not, too bad.
Over the years, I worked in marketing communication about as often as
tech writing--and I would very much second the idea of seeking to be
in the editorial/approval loop regarding all customer-facing
documents, web material, and the like if at all possible.
If you are in an operation that either has or is contemplating
spending a bundle on "branding" initiatives, it is often easier to
sell the idea of helping to keep the corporate voice consistent and
effective.
David
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Use Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word, or HTML and
produce desktop, Web, or print deliverables. Just write (or import)
and Doc-To-Help does the rest. Free trial: http://www.doctohelp.com
Explore CAREER options and paths related to Technical Writing,
learn to create SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS documents, and
get tips on FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION best practices. Free at: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
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