Re: Dividing the Tech writer job

["Bergen, Jane" <janeb -at- ANSWERSOFT -dot- COM>]

Let me ask some of you to read the original post once more.

Note that I did not say "cannot grow".... I said "do not grow" as in
matter of course. Sure, if someone is ANYthing (burger flippers
included), they *may* be able to be a technical writer. But it is
definitely not the norm. Nor is understanding technical jargon. I would
venture to say that few rocket scientists could be good technical
writers, either. We are talking different skill sets here. There are no
skills in typing or typesetting that qualify as good WRITING skills.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Theresa Jakupco [mailto:Tsjz -at- AOL -dot- COM]
>
> Jane,
> In a message dated 8/10/98 6:48:02 PM, you wrote:
>
> <<Typists do not "grow into technical writers.">>
>
> An arrow shot threw my heart as I read this. Nonsense! I began as a
> typist/typesetter in the early '70s. I could/can read most
> scientific/engineering/computer-related journals with very
> good comprehension.
> At least enough to point out that some sentences were
> probably not what the
> professional intended to say.

Comprehension is only part of the battle. A lot of people can look at a
sentence and tell that it doesn't work. Fewer know how to fix it. And
fewer still know WHY....now that's what the good writer can do.

Jane

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=