Re: Changed topic to skills we need - Warning! I am wordy.

["Anthony Markatos" <tonymar -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Tony Markatos said:

The problem with Technical Writers who also devote a significant amount of 
their energies in learning DTP, pre-production, etc, is that they inevitably 
decrease there efforts in doing (end-user task analysis, estimating, and 
other planning tasks) .  Usability suffers greatly!

Sharon Burton-Hardin responded:

No learning is ever wasted. The time I spent in the trenches learning the 
pre-production stuff has paid off on every project I have been on. Every 
one. I can offer the client a range of What we can deliver the manual as and 
why each option has good and bad things about it. The time I spent learning 
document design/DTP - again in the trenches - has paid off similarly.

Tony Markatos responds:

And I spend alot of time learning myself - most recently, I obtained an 
indepth knowledge of Sybase SQL, before that PageMaker, before that C++, and 
on-and-on.

Geepers man - its not about learning new stuff!  Its about creating highly 
usable documentation.  And to the degree that a Tech Writer devotes his/her 
energies to DTP, pre-production, and all other technologies involved with 
(what JoAnn Hackos calls) Technical Writing "manufacturing" tasks, he/she 
moves away from performing necessary Technical Writing planning tasks 
(things like end-user task analysis and estimating).

Sharon Burtin-Hardin said:

Usability has increased for all my documents/online help/templates/etc.

Tony Markatos responds:

What you are saying is that you are good at everything: end-user task 
analysis, estimating, project management, DTP, pre-production, - everything. 
 You might be, but few others are.  I've seen alot of technical 
communicators in action; I'll restate: To the degree that a TW devotes 
his/her energy in "manufacturing" tasks, he/she devotes less energy in 
"planning" tasks.

Sharon Burtin-Hardin said:

We also work from plans in my company. We estimate how long things are going 
to take and work to those plans. And - pardon the caps here but this is 
really important - WE CAN ONLY MAKE THOSE ESTIMATES BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW 
LONG/WHAT CAN GO WRONG IN THE DTP/PRE-PRODUCTION/EVERYTHING ELSE DEPARTMENT.

Tony Markatos responds:

You, and your co-workers truly are very intelligent.  And I must admit, I 
don't know anything about estimating for DTP and pre-production.  I DO know 
a lot about estimating for TW analysis and design activities.  And I know 
that:

1.) Unless a TW has a strong background in analysis and planning, they can 
not estimate for such.
2.) To the degree that TWs devote their energies to "manufacturing" tasks, 
they devote less energies to "planning" tasks (you and your people, of 
course, excluded).

Sharon Burtin-Hardin said:

I think you are narrowing your world for other reasons.

Tony Markatos responds:

Saaay what?

Sharon Burtin-Hardin said:

I teach tech writing and several software programs at the local university. 
I see people like you. You may want to look at why you need to narrow your 
world to be so small and what might happen if you decided to learn things 
you think you are not good at.

Tony Markatos responds:

I'm currently learning Java.  I recently obtained an indepth knowledge of 
Sybase SQL - performing alot of complex database joins can get real "hairy"! 
 I do public speaking at a volunteer organization that I belong to - a 
difficult thing for me to do, but I enjoy the challenge.  Why are you being 
so defensive by throwing out such falsehoods?  I don't tell falsehoods about 
you.

Tony Markatos
(tonymar -at- hotmail -dot- com)







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