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.
Our local community college offers overview programming courses especially geared for technical writers. I've taken courses in C++, Java, and a generalized theory of computer programming-type course. Each of these courses were one night a week for 5 or 10 weeks. Very do-able, not a huge commitment of time and resources, and you get a good *feel* for programming concepts and syntax without feeling swamped by the subject. Maybe you can find similar courses in your region?
I've found that taking these courses has served me very well when it came time to edit our SDK documentation, and it's done wonders for improving my relationship with the engineers. Even if you're not a full-on programmer, they appreciate that I took the time to learn a bit about what is so near and dear to their hearts. ;-)
--Yvette
--Yvette Kirby Waters
Technical Writer
Nintendo Technology Development, Inc.
vox: (425) 861-2968
fax: (425) 861-2976
>>> John Posada <jposada01 -at- yahoo -dot- com> 07/03/01 01:25PM >>>
Hi, guys...with this market being what it is...I was just wondering.
If you weren't a programmer, but you wanted to increase your strength
as a technical writer by adding a programming ability, what would you
go for that would satisfy the following conditions:
1) Make you more attractive as a technical writer in a tough job
market.
2) Can get into without having taken the customary path of
basic/Cobol/c
3) Would actually be of value to those looking at resumes.
4) Is not a dead-end and can be leveraged into other ares.
I'm thinking maybe Java? Visual Basic? I'm not really looking for an
easy way out...I'm willing to put in the effort of learning the
skill. I just don't want to spin my wheels learning something that
will take alot of time (and money) and when I finally get there,
nobody cares.
=====
John Posada, Senior Technical Writer
"How to be happy in life: Never impose your beliefs
on anyone else and never fry bacon in the nude."
-- Anon mailto:john -at- tdandw -dot- com, 732-259-2874
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