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I began my career as a technical writer in AD 1999. It was a different
world then; FrameMaker, and an occasional Pagemaker, RoboHelp, Visio, CMVC,
doc plans, Chicago Manual of Style, Microsoft Manual of Style and Strunk &
White, peer reviews, manager reviews, waterfall. And I was terrible with
the use of tools then, as I am from a management background with no
technical expertise, whatsoever, and dreaded the scathing comments from my
doc lead, Emily, from Siebel. Monday mornings, well, the less said about
them, the better.
Then slowly, I began to pick up the ropes and groomed other writers. I got
a couple of awards at STC in technical writing.
Over the years, I became a senior writer and many of us were asked to
"become" instructional designers, due to changing business demands at IBM.
Some of the writers thought it was "below their dignity" to be changing
tracks. In contrast, IDs were more "snooty" (LOL) and thought the world of
themselves in terms of goals, objectives, assessments, etc. There was a
lot of friction between both teams.
I was more open and managed to wear various hats; instructional designer,
learning consultant, proposals writer, team lead, and finally Learning &
Development Project Manager.
I left IBM in 2014 to pursue my passion for writing screenplays and was
able to have a movie made out of one of my screenplays. Two others have
been greenlit and I'm contented.
But strangely, I found that screenplays don't take you the whole day and I
was attracted to technical writing assignments as a freelancer.
By 2020, I found the world totally changed. These days we are talking about
more friendly language in user manuals, blogs, training videos, Agile, of
course, JIRA, SharePoint, DITA+ArborText, and whatnot. No one seems to be
using FM and PM or RoboHelp anymore. I learned to use Madcap Flare and
earlier I thought oxygen was for breathing but learned that there is a
writing tool too of that name. We've become more "articulate" with
Camtasia, several video-building applications, and so on.
At first, I felt like Rip Wan Winkle:-)
But now I'm kind of sorted out now and pick up writing assignments I like
and that are challenging. I think, "once a technical writer, always a
technical writer."
Hail!!! Long Live the TW tribe!!!
Thanks
Kalyan
On Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 8:31 AM Suzette Seveny <suzette -dot- seveny -at- gmail -dot- com>
wrote:
> I think our industry is changing so much that the traditional "technical
> writer" is going to change as well.
>
> For me, it's more than writing user documentation - it is creating user
> content such as e-learning, training documents and videos, content portals,
> etc.
>
> I should be retired but there's so much to learn and I'm having too much
> fun!
>
> Suzette
>
> Suzette
>
> On Sun., Feb. 19, 2023, 8:05 a.m. Nina Barzgaran, <
> nina -dot- barzgaran -at- barzgaran -dot- at> wrote:
>
> > Nice to see people still use this. I am on and off present.
> >
> > Yes, people still do need tech writers, very much so. I am working at a
> > company who produce fire and security protection, based on IP technology
> > and similar in health care, staff call systems.
> > My first time as a (technical) writer in such an industry, still
> > documenting software, mainly. Love it.
> > Kind colleagues, large(ish) company, globally operating. Very good place
> > to be.
> >
> > Previously I wrote in English only (not 'only English' ;) ) but these
> > days it's mainly German.
> >
> > I think, we all make mistakes now and again, notwithstanding being
> > professionals in our work. Being kind towards others can help - next
> > time it may be your turn.... :) Isn't it a placement and meaning thing
> > rather than grammar...?
> >
> > I like writing and technology. Always have, always will.
> >
> > Love this list/newsletter!
> >
> > Thanks all! :)
> > 'Read you around'
> > Nina
> >
> > Am 19.02.2023 07:50, schrieb Gene Kim-Eng:
> >
> > > I retired (again!) last Oct. Fourth time in the past 10 years. Maybe
> > > this one will stick.
> > >
> > > Gene Kim-Eng
> > >
> > > On 2/18/2023 6:48 PM, Robert Courtney wrote:
> > >
> > >> I retired years ago.
> > >
> > > --
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