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RE: tool nonsense (gearing up to be a tech writer)
Subject:RE: tool nonsense (gearing up to be a tech writer) From:Jeff Hanvey <techwriter -at- jewahe -dot- net> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 1 May 2001 09:08:45 -0700 (PDT)
I'm going to be the dessenting vote here.
I agree that tools aren't as important as knowledge. You can't get very far if you don't know the why's and wherefore's of what you're doing - that means a firm grounding in writing and whatever technology you're writing about. It also means that you should know your audience - or how to determine who your audience is - and how best to reach them.
BUT (just keeping with the debate's structure), you can't do without the tools.
Bottom line: a carpenter would not find work if he only knows the theory of how to build a house, but couldn't use the paraphanelia of his craft. The same is true of technical writing: you have to know the tools; companies just can't allow on-the-job training (if you find one that will give you time, then you're lucky). They want measurable progress from the start.
To me, you can't separate the two; the craft comes from applying your knowledge through your tools. If you come to the job with a deficiency in either, the job is going to take a lot longer, be a lot more painful, and probably won't be anywhere near the quality it should be.
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Jeff Hanvey: http://www.jewahe.net
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