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The long answer is that something similar happened to me two jobs ago. I
started as a tech writer, and the following year was asked to manage a
small team of developers (4). I already knew how to ask the right
questions, to organize the information I collected, and to suggest new
approaches to stubborn problems -- all part of being a good tech writer.
I'd already built a good personal relationship with the developers, so
it wasn't really a stretch. The only new element was integrating the
company's business needs into that mix, and that just meant using upper
management as an additional SME, if you will.
The short answer is in your own post, where you wrote, "the challenge is
really exciting." Go for it!
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sue Jones
> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 3:39 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Writer question...
>
> I have been writing for 20+ years in various teams and
> groups and have spent the last nine years working for
> the same company as a contractor. We've recently had a
> company re-org and the writing task has been made a
> part of product support.
>
> Now, as a writer I made a few changes in our way of
> working and other areas to do with the way we produce
> and distribute our material. Those changes have
> resulted in my being asked to lead/build the new
> product support team (as a permanent employee). I was
> told that the skills I used as a writer were what
> they wanted me to use to lead the new team.
>
> I have no real experience in the area and I was
> wondering if any other writers had found their skills
> being extrapolated (?) in a similar way. It is a real
> opportunity to build a really visible team, so I must
> admit that the challenge is really exciting. But I
> wondered if anyone had found themselves in a similar
> situation.
>
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