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: ANON: Writing a Tutorial From:Doug Nickerson <Doug_Nickerson -at- ONSETCOMP -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 6 Nov 1998 15:44:57 -0500
camw -at- HOME -dot- COM,Internet writes:
>I am writing a tutorial for a software product. I have written other
>manuals and online documentation for the product, but this is the
>first time I'm writing a tutorial.
>
>My problem is that no one has given me any direction as to what the
>tutorial should do. My initial impulse is to just to make up my own
>sample project and walk users through creating that project using the
>software. Of course, I won't be able to walk users through all the
>features, so I'll probably just do those that are most commonly used.
ANON,
Your question has got to be a perennial one in any writing project, where
do I begin? My librarian once said something wise to me: "with non-fiction
at least you can write down three things you really must say, and then try
to say them."
Other people have given such good advice on your problem. I think your
impulse is right--you must follow SOME path through the material; once you
get started you'll begin to think of all the things you could put in, or
things that you've forgotten. Of course once you do a successful
tutorial, you may no longer be anonymous.
Doug
Bourne, MA.
Programmer/author
doug_nickerson -at- onsetcomp -dot- com
