RE: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style)

Subject: RE: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style)
From: "Marguerite Krupp" <mkrupp -at- cisco -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 09:50:39 -0500


Well, here we go with the "programmers can't write thread," version 10.6.x.

OK, when I first made the conversion from system programmer to tech writer,
eons ago, I documented the way the program worked. That was what we did back
then. That's what programmers are STILL supposed to do.... We call that
writing specs.

As a writer, I learned that USERS generally wanted to know HOW TO USE THE
PRODUCT. How it worked was entirely secondary to most of them.

Hmmm. As a programmer, I was a good writer. As a tech writer (etc.), I'm a
better writer, in part because I do it more, in part because my
understanding and experience has grown.

Some programmers/engineers/bankers/technicians/etc. write well. Some don't.

We tech writers are paid to write well and to understand both the technology
and our users.

OK, this is a bit of a rant. Gotta go back to work.

Marguerite



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out SnagIt - The Screen Capture Standard!
Download a free 30-day trial from http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/txt/twr
Find out what all the other tech writers, including Dan, already know!

Order RoboHelp X3 in November and receive $100 mail in rebate, FREE WebHelp
Merge Module and the new RoboPDF - add powerful PDF output functionality
to RoboHelp X3. Order online today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.



References:
Re: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style): From: Paul DuBois

Previous by Author: RE: Now is the winter of our dis-CONTENT (was Content vs. Style)
Next by Author: RE: Now is the winter of our dis-CONTENT (was Content vs. Style)
Previous by Thread: Re: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is moreimportant than style)
Next by Thread: Re: Remember secretaries? (was RE: Proof that content is more important than style)


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads