FWD: A Good Problem, but a Problem Nonetheless...

Subject: FWD: A Good Problem, but a Problem Nonetheless...
From: TECHWR-L Administrator <admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:54:15 -0600

Forwarded anonymously on request. TECHWR-L Admin.
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I could really use the input of the TECHWR-L community here.

After seven years as a contractor, I took a full time job four years ago
as a lone tech writer (at a 600 person company who never had a tech
writer before). It has been a great run - I have a reasoonable workload,
a grea deal of latitude about how I approach my job, and respect at all
levels of the company. So what's the problem?

In addition to my TW background, I also have a diversified business
background. I would like to focus on the technical end - document
software, run SQL queries, write release notes, etc. My director is
trying (and has been all along) to direct me to the business end, and I
wind up doing a lot of business document "font fondling" on things like
business continuity plans, operating budgets, Org charts, etc.

My concern is as follows:

* I want to focus on the technical end, and am concerned I'm losing
skills and knowledge
* I suspect she may be trying to keep me in her own area for her own
needs (I really feel that it's a waste of my company's time and money to
have me prettying up operating plans, when there is a great deal of
technical writing needed by other areas.)

Here are my questions:
* Is my situation typical? Are any of you in a similar one?
* Are my concerns about losing my skills justified?
* Should I raise a flag about being a wasted resource?
* A I out of line to say that I want to focus on technical matters, and
that I feel it's not the best use of my time and their resources to have
me where I am?

-Long Time Techwrler


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