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: English Majors as TWs From:Lindsey Durway <LDurway -at- PAV -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 20 Jul 1999 15:28:41 -0500
It doesn't bother me if the academic community is doing what you claim,
defining the tech writing discipline because tech writers have let the
opportunity slip past. I have found tech writers to be so diverse in terms
of backgrounds and quality of work that I can't imagine what sort of
umbrella we could agree on. Personally, I find the diversity fascinating,
but professionally, I moan a lot. Our profession doesn't have enough really
good writers, and there's certainly not a great deal of technical expertise.
If the academic community can come up with a recipe that gives us more
really good writers having technical savvy, I say more power to them. Bring
it on. Just don't take MY job.... :-)
