RE: Guess what: we suck! (take II)

Subject: RE: Guess what: we suck! (take II)
From: "Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>
To: "'Geoff Hart'" <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>, "'TECHWR-L'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>, "'Eric Dunn'" <dunn -dot- eric -dot- l -at- gmail -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:16:25 -0700

Is there a Technical Writing for Dummies book? I think that we might be
able to get together and generate some beer and pizza money just by
compiling the archives.

Lauren


> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
> Behalf Of Geoff Hart
> Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 5:02 PM
> To: TECHWR-L; Eric Dunn
> Subject: Guess what: we suck! (take II)
>
> Eric Dunn noted: <<But here's the catch, nobody is likely to
> pay 20-30
> $ more for the software with the good manual while they will
> hunt for
> cheaper software, grumble about the manuals, and happily put down
> 20-30$ for an after market manual and recommend the same to
> all their
> friends.>>
>
> That's no catch -- really! Does it take any longer to write
> 500 pages
> of "for Dummies" book than it takes to write 500 pages of "by
> Dummies" book? <g> Nope! Does it cost any more to print it? Nope...
> it should cost less, because we're producing more copies (one per
> copy of the software), thus the cost per book is lower. Does it take
> longer? Presumably not, since these books come out about as fast as
> the software, and the authors don't even have the same lead time or
> access to the SMEs that we have.
>
> _That's_ my point: If they can do it, why can't we? Many reasons,
> actually, and each of them is something we should be working on with
> our own clients.
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> -- Geoff Hart
> ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
> www.geoff-hart.com
> --------------------------------------------------
> ***Now available*** _Effective onscreen editing_
> (http://www.geoff-hart.com/home/onscreen-book.htm)
>
>
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help
> file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows
> Vista & 2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
> http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/lt34%40csus.edu
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

References:
Guess what: we suck! (take II): From: Geoff Hart

Previous by Author: RE: Field-specific Help
Next by Author: RE: poor/misleading signage
Previous by Thread: Guess what: we suck! (take II)
Next by Thread: RE: Guess what: we suck! (take II)


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


Sponsored Ads