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.
Subject:Re: hiring an indexer From:Lori Lathrop <76620 -dot- 456 -at- COMPUSERVE -dot- COM> Date:Sun, 1 Jun 1997 14:48:52 EDT
In response to Stuart Burnfield (slb -at- FS -dot- COM -dot- AU), who said:
>>I got the impression they react to "helpful input from the author" they same
way we react to helpful suggestions from our developers about spelling, grammar,
structure, style, etc.>>
I suppose some indexers do react that way; however, others appreciate helpful
suggestions from clients and, in fact, professional indexers must be flexible
enough to follow each client's stylistic preferences and guidelines. And, of
course, most indexers are very grateful for guidance on terminology that is
unique to the product. BTW, when the client is the author of the book, indexers
always appreciate the opportunity to ask questions.
A couple of tech writers have written to me privately to ask whether writers
should ever attempt to write their own indexes. I must admit that I do know
some professional indexers who feel that writers should *never* attempt to write
their own indexes. However, if I agreed with them, I certainly wouldn't have
developed my workshop, Indexing Skills Workshop for Technical Communicators,
which I have delivered to STC chapters, ASI chapters, and corporate clients. In
fact, I always encourage corporate clients to find one or more tech writers who
enjoy indexing (and who have a "knack" for it), then ask those writers to
develop indexes for all of their documentation.
Happy indexing .... Lori
**********************************************************************
Lori Lathrop ---------->INTERNET:76620 -dot- 456 -at- compuserve -dot- com
Lathrop Media Services, P.O. Box 3065, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Office: 303-567-4447, ext. 28 / Fax: 303-567-9306
URL - http://idt.net/!lathro19 (note: that's a "nineteen" at the end)
**********************************************************************
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
