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.
Opposite story: When I was 14 years old, also in the 1970s, my Dad was a
chemistry professor at Cornell, and I would edit his grant proposals -
not for technical content, of course, but rather for clarity,
presentation, etc. At one point, Dad suggested that I become a technical
writer, since there was a desperate shortage of good writers at the
chemical journals. I told him there was no way I would ever become a
technical writer. It took about 21 years to discover that he was right
all along.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cardimon, Craig
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 7:56 AM
To: 'Steve Janoff (non-Celgene)'; 'Tony Chung'; 'Robert Lauriston';
'TECHWR-L'
Subject: I remember when... (was: RE: Rhetorical question about
Information Design)
Speaking of fathers, I remember when I first told my parents I wanted to
be a technical writer.
This was back in the mid-1970s. My mom said, "What's that?" I asked my
dad if his company used tech writers. My dad said his company had one
technical writer, but he was an older guy with 20 years of experience
who had a doctorate in English.
Shaking his head, my dad also added, "Forget it," by way of gentle
discouragement.
This message contains confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified that reading, disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify us, by replying to the sender, and delete the original message immediately thereafter. Thank you.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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.