Re: Where are the experts on job estimating?

["Hutchings, Christa" <cwhutchings -at- HOMEWIRELESS -dot- COM>]

I would still be tempted to estimate 4 hours per page, but it would
depend on the document and its author. If it requires heavy editing to
make it "readable", then probably definitely 4 hours. If the SME has
done a pretty decent job communicating the topic and all I have to do is
clean up the grammar a little, then it could surely be done in less
time. And yes, as some other posts have indicated, there are lots of
programmer/engineers out there who really can write quite well and are
worth their weight in gold to Tech Pubs people!

Chris Welch-Hutchings
Sr. Technical Writer
Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
Norcross GA (USA)
cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gina Hertel [SMTP:Ghertel -at- ALPHA88 -dot- COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 1998 1:58 PM
> To:   'Hutchings, Christa'; 'Gina Hertel';
> TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      RE: Where are the experts on job estimating?
>
> What about editing?
> If a SME gives you a document and asks you to *edit* it, is there a
> rule of
> thumb for this?
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:       Hutchings, Christa [SMTP:cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com]
> > Sent:       Wednesday, May 06, 1998 1:46 PM
> > To: 'Gina Hertel'; TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> > Subject:    RE: Where are the experts on job estimating?
> >
> > Well, in all of my positions as a TW (except the one prior to my
> current
> > position), I did my own formatting, and still used 4 hours per page
> as a
> > guideline. I usually made it too, although it took some serious
> > rocket-fuel at times!
> >
> > Chris Welch-Hutchings
> > Sr. Technical Writer
> > Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
> > Norcross GA (USA)
> > cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:     Gina Hertel [SMTP:Ghertel -at- ALPHA88 -dot- COM]
> > > Sent:     Wednesday, May 06, 1998 1:37 PM
> > > To:       'Hutchings, Christa'; TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> > > Subject:  RE: Where are the experts on job estimating?
> > >
> > > 4 hours per page is for writing original material, right?
> > > What about editing, formatting, etc.?
> > >
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From:   Hutchings, Christa [SMTP:cwhutchings -at- HOMEWIRELESS -dot- COM]
> > > > Sent:   Wednesday, May 06, 1998 1:15 PM
> > > > To:     TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> > > > Subject:        Re: Where are the experts on job estimating?
> > > >
> > > > Boy, this should get a good discussion going! I have always been
> > > told
> > > > that the rule of thumb was 4 hours per page. Consequently, I've
> > > always
> > > > based my pub plans on that. I'd love to have the luxury of 8
> hours
> > > per
> > > > page!
> > > >
> > > > Chris Welch-Hutchings
> > > > Sr. Technical Writer
> > > > Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
> > > > Norcross GA (USA)
> > > > cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com
> > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Richard J. Collins [SMTP:writejob -at- DNAI -dot- COM]
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 1998 1:00 PM
> > > > > To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> > > > > Subject:      Where are the experts on job estimating?
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello to all,
> > > > > I just searched the national web STC web site for information
> > > > > regarding page
> > > > > estimate numbers to use for technical writing projects. I came
> up
> > > > > empty
> > > > > handed.
> > > > >
> > > > > I thought the society was making an effort to provide research
> on
> > > this
> > > > > kind
> > > > > of information. For years we have used 8 hours per page as a
> rule
> > > of
> > > > > thumb,
> > > > > but I was recently asked how I could substantiate that and had
> to
> > > > > admit I
> > > > > did not have any valid data in front of me.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's got to be there somewhere. No? Or are all the tech
> writing
> > > > > professionals so burnt out on trying to put good numbers on
> their
> > > > > projects
> > > > > that they just let it slide off the desk.
> > > > >
> > > > > Any advice?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Rich Collins
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > > > > &^~~~
> > > > > Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
> > > > > TECHWR-L)
> > > > > Search archives at:
> http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/archives.htm
> > > > > Find contractor info at
> > > > > http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/contractors.htm
> > > > > Send all list-related questions or problems to
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > &^~~
> > > > ~
> > > > Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
> > > TECHWR-L)
> > > > Search archives at:
> http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/archives.htm
> > > > Find contractor info at
> > > http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/contractors.htm
> > > > Send all list-related questions or problems to