TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Another kind of puzzle From:Misti Delaney <mdelaney -at- SOFTWARE-SERVICES -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 13 Aug 1996 14:08:47 -0400
This comes from a friend I forward the cream of the list to:
*********
>Here's a puzzle for you: my document for one of our products has to be
>"essentially complete" by tomorrow, so that I will be available to begin the
>next project.
>When I go to the project lead engineer for information on some things
(little
>minor details like major functionality, search syntax, etc), I am told "we
>don't know that yet.. we're going to have to wait and see. We have
another 3
>weeks to make up our minds." (they're not due to QA until Sept 4.) They
don't
>even know what they're going to call the $# -at- % thing!
>is this cognitive dissonance, or what?
>my only option is to write from the specs, and hope that they don't change
>things too terribly (which they will). This is beyond science fiction,
which
>at least is supposed to be *based* on real-world science. This is now
getting
>into the realm of fantasy, which raises another important question.
>I've never written technical fantasy before, and am not familiar with the
>genre. Our system doesn't use Wizards (Microsoft-style or any other)
>and I don't really think it's appropriate to include unicorns or other
mystical
>beasts. Would giants suffice for the fantasy, or do I have to figure
out how
>to work elves into it?
>*sigh*
...as quoted to:
*******************************************************************
Misti Delaney (Tucker)
Technical Consultant/ Communication Specialist
Software Services Corporation
Ann Arbor, Michigan
(800) 448-1568
*******************************************************************
My opinions do not in any way represent those of my employer.
TECHWR-L List Information
To send a message about technical communication to 2500+ list readers,
E-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send administrative commands
ALL other questions or problems concerning the list
should go to the listowner, Eric Ray, at ejray -at- ionet -dot- net -dot-
