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: Anyone Can Write - Just Look At The Job Descriptions
Subject:RE: Anyone Can Write - Just Look At The Job Descriptions From:"Cardimon, Craig" <ccardimon -at- M-S-G -dot- com> To:'Gene Kim-Eng' <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, "'beelia -at- pacbell -dot- net'" <beelia -at- pacbell -dot- net>, 'Ed' <glassnet -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:12:09 +0000
I also try to use such things to my advantage. Many people simply don't understand what we do. If someone asks me to "make it pretty," I may do one of two things. I might ask them if they want me to edit it. Some people get it. Some are scared that you will put words in their mouth. I might ask them if they want me to work my editorial magic on it. Most are okay with that phrasing.
Craig
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Gene Kim-Eng
Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 11:00 PM
To: beelia -at- pacbell -dot- net; Ed
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Anyone Can Write - Just Look At The Job Descriptions
I suspect this is one of those YMMV things. For me it's a positive because I
choose to see it as one and try to make it work to my advantage.
Unfortunately, it's also possible that the statement in question has a different
tone when it begins with "he" rather than "she."
> In my experience, when someone says "make it pretty", he is telling
> the company how important and clever he is, and how insignificant the
> contribution of the tech writer is.
> Gene, I rarely disagree with you, but you're missing the patronizing
> tone that usually accompanies "she makes me dot my i's and t's". What
> he really means that his i's and t's are about as important as washing
> his socks.
> By "pretty", they mean that the content is perfect, but it isn't in
> the company format - or he doesn't know how to number the pages and
> put in headers and footers.
>
> Usually these guys (and they are always guys) are really insecure, do
> mediocre work, and their documents are so bad they need a total
> rewrite.
>
> Whenever I hear "make it pretty" I don't get mad - I just lose respect
> for that person and try to avoid working with him (because I might end
> up doing his job and not getting credit for it).
>
> I spent decades letting stuff like this slide because I needed the
> job. Considering the unemployment rate, I guess that might qualify as
> being "in a pretty good place."
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com -dot-
Information contained in this e-mail transmission is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, do not read, distribute or reproduce this transmission (including any attachments). If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or email reply.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
