Re: Marketing Writing and Tech Writing (Was: RE: Description of Tech Writers)

[Anthony Davey <ant -at- ant-davey -dot- com>]

Okay Guys,

I admit it, I do technical and marketing writing as well, and even write 
articles and case studies for PR (half way to journalism).

What I originally meant to suggest was, as others have proposed, that 
marketing writing is a specific skill that, in part, depends on a 
particular mind set.  You call it a different style, but I would suggest 
that there is more to it than just learning how to write in a different 
style.

Now the potentially controversial bit: I would guess that, like me, 
Steve and Willow are perhaps writers turned technical, rather than 
ex-SMEs (now I know what it means) turned to writing.  I would also 
argue, to a potential client, that writing is writing is writing.  But I 
would not claim to be able to take on writing  the back-end system 
manuals for Diane's gene testing chips (though having to learn enough 
about genetics to help with the front-end would be a great experience). 
Nor would I leap at the chance to write anything for an audience of 
SMEs, unless I was close to being one myself.

Steve and Willow are obvously marketing writers as well, and I would not 
tell them not to do it, so that I can have all of the work; what I was 
suggesting was that there are areas of specialisation that some of us 
are suited to and others not.  Maintaining our specialisations will keep 
our standards up, and that is one of the things that will maintain our 
status as writing specialists (e.g. John's recent early Christmas present).

Wishing us all a good holiday and a prosperous New Year,
Ant

Steven Oppenheimer wrote: