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:Re: I'm gonna be an Indexer!! From:Mike Stockman <stockman -at- JAGUNET -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 9 Jul 1999 16:35:09 -0400
On 7/9/1999 4:08 PM, John Posada (jposada01 -at- YAHOO -dot- COM) wrote:
>1) For someone who's never done indexing, if you could
>buy 1 book on indexing that would get me up to speed
>quickest AND that is currently in print (I don't want
>to spin my wheels waiting 4-6 weeks for shippment),
>what would it be, money is not a consideration.
I'd recommend following the instructions in the Chicago Manual of Style
(no idea which edition... I think I have 13th, but 14th is out, or
something). They give a good summary of how to go about indexing, and the
structure thereof.
I'm sure there are many full-length books on How To Index As A God, but
see if the Chicago Manual won't get you started first...
Good luck. I've been a fair-to-middling indexer in my time, but I've
always, always been bored silly by it. I second the single-malt scotch
recommendation, but stick with the 15+-year-olds... you'll need them.
