RE: Resources for learning Structured Writing?

["Janoff, Steven" <Steven -dot- Janoff -at- hologic -dot- com>]

Okay, I love the recommendations so far (thanks, Stuart and Robert), but I need to be more specific about what I'm looking for.  Apologies for not doing so.

I'm looking for resources for a non-technical team, first off.  Tech writers but not familiar yet with DITA or XML.

I want a resource that teaches structured writing *outside of* any tagging environment, so no DTDs or EDDs, no DITA or XML, no DocBook or S1000D, nothing along these lines.

I'm looking for a resource that focuses exclusively on structured writing as it comes out of the Information Mapping tradition -- that was developed in the late 60's, long before even the PC let alone the current environment.  (It's my understanding that DITA, and I believe also S1000D, were developed in response to IM.)

If I remember right, IM provides 7 topic types, versus the primary 3 in DITA, so I want to see what the IM ones have to offer.

I have not been able to find a source that instructs in structured writing a la Information Mapping.  The IM professional company offers materials and primarily courses, but I don't want to go that route just yet.  I want a team of junior writers (and some senior writers) who have not yet been exposed to DITA or XML to learn the skill of structured writing *first* (out of IM, remember, not DITA-dependent), so that once they have a general mastery of the art, *then* they have a base to learn DITA and XML and get ready for a transition if it is to happen.  But even if there is no transition, I would like them to have that skill regardless.

I'm surprised there is no dedicated resource for this, as far as I can tell.  All I see are the older articles by R. Horn and his 2 or 3 books but nothing contemporary that's tutorial, even though I realize that if this was developed in the 60's, maybe you don't need a modern book.  But I have yet to find anything relevant.

I hope that's a bit clearer on the goal.  Thanks!

Steve

On Friday, October 17, 2014 4:37 PM, Steve Janoff wrote:

Hi,

In following up on the recent thread regarding migration to DITA:  it became clear that whether or not one migrates to DITA, learning the skill of structured writing is a good idea.

Therefore:  Does anyone know of any good resources for learning this skill?

Also, are there any good resources that would guide one in teaching this skill to a department of writers with no experience in the art?

Thank you so much.  I have not been able to find a single book on it (via Amazon).

I appreciate any and all thoughts and inputs.

Best,

Steve


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