RE: Secretary Proofing Manuals?

Subject: RE: Secretary Proofing Manuals?
From: quills -at- airmail -dot- net
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 16:24:42 -0500

Scott wrote:
Unless there is a history of your manuals not being well proofed, it
is unusual.

Ok, even then it is unusual.

walden writes:
It is not unusual. It is a name game. Tech writers should be used to this.
What is in a title? We wrangle over titles as much or more than anyone. It
sounds to me like you have a copyeditor being paid for by the company.
Calling it proofreading by an AA doesn't make it any less. I would love to
have a copyeditor on staff. Instead I hired a writer with copyediting
background and when deadlines aren't too tight, I can use him as a
copyeditor. You have a great situation. Don't blow it.

What is in a name. Pardon me, but why does a manager/director/vice-president consider the title important. Titles are important. With titles other things are associated. Money, power, authority, responsibility.

The name of a thing IS important.

In many offices, the admin assistant is the power. He or she gets things
done. Often, AA's are very well paid and very educated/intelligent/etc. We
have an AA that I am grooming for this very purpose. She is underused at
the moment, so in her spare time, she learned Framemaker and I am going to
start giving her assignments.

Tina said that the exec assistant is "very bogged down." Another VERY big reason why this work assignment is not a good idea.


I am amazed at the comments that are trying to subvert her situation, or
belittle her power. What's up with that? Check the archives. These are
some of the usual complaints about marginalizing our own positions.

Yes, it appears to be similar. Except her mission is support of her executive boss, not meeting the deadlines of the tech writers.

This situation can be fraught with pitfalls. If she was under utilized it would be good to have her help. That is evidently not the case. She has approval power. Why? Why does an admin, politically powerful or not, have approval over product?

Does this not seem like it is out of the realm of lines of authority? Outside the lines of responsibility? Outside the realm of competency?

walden

BTW: I think good copyeditors bring in equal or more money than typical
tech writers.


Scott

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References:
RE: Secretary Proofing Manuals?: From: walden miller

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