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Subject:Re: Isolation and the technical communicator From:Marilynne Smith <marilyns -at- QUALCOMM -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 9 Jun 1998 09:53:06 -0700
There is a lone writer sig for those of you who are the only writer at work.
Marilynne
At 10:52 AM +0300 6/9/98, Debbie Figus wrote:
>Very interesting topic, and I think quite relevant to the work we do. Where
>I live, many people are interested in going into technical writing, and I
>get a number of calls from potential tw-ers to find out about the field.
>Along with all the things I talk about with them, I tell them that
>personality-wise, you have to be content working alone and independently
>much of the time. I think itís a significant factor in job satisfaction.
>
>Not too long ago, there was some discussion on this list about the need for
>good interviewing and interpersonal skills, in order to get the information
>we need from SMEís. I agree this is very important. Even so, I spend most
>of my day alone in front of this computer screen, and in my case, it suits
>me just fine. My current workplace is an unusually social environment, and
>the walls of my work area donít go all the way up the ceiling (sort of a
>cross between an office and a cubicle.) So actually, I highly value my
>semi-private corner. If I want to interact with other people, I can just
>walk down the hall and have a chat.
>
>In my former career (and former country), I was a social worker. I put a
>tremendous amount of personal/emotional energy into my work, and it took a
>lot out of me. I find that since technical writing doesn't make these
>emotional demands, I have much more of myself to give to my life outside of
>work.
>
>One more thing: Since Iím a lone technical writer, I find this list a
>genuine source of camaraderie and professional community. Since thereís no
>one else in my company to talk to about the variety of issues involved in
>this work, I get a lot from reading the list.
>
>Debbie Figus
>Excalibur Systems
>Jerusalem, Israel
>
~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~ ~!~
Marilynne Smith marilyns -at- qualcomm -dot- com
Sr. Technical Writer (619) 651-6664
QUALCOMM AE-203B
"We'll have the whole world talking"
