RE: New Tech Writers Group: API Tech Writers

["Lydia Wong" <lydiaw -at- fpoint -dot- com>]

Eric asked:
<post>
Lydia and all,
Just out of curiosity, why not address issues of
documenting APIs right here on TECHWR-L? It's clearly
appropriate and on-topic, and, as shown by the fact that
it's been announced at least twice so far today,
has approximately a 100% overlap with the point and purpose
of this list.
</post>

That's a good question, Eric. Perhaps we'll find that we needn't have a
separate group, but so far, folks seem enthusiastic about it.

The reasoning for the group came from a couple different things. Actually,
as I noted, it came from a desire to know/"meet" other .NET tech writers.
But other API writers, being a curious group, wanted to join.

I'd thought about the idea of an API group for a while because there are
indeed some lively discussions about API writing here on TechWr-L. One of
the discussions in the not distant past involved someone (I can't find the
thread) asking about advanced API topics at next year's STC meeting. That
made me start thinking, as have the times wannabe API writers have asked
about training and information. I often point them to Sue Gallagher's
excellent white papers on the topic. It would be nice for the group to have
a list of relevant links (once we get one set up!).

So, just as there is a Framers group and a HATT group and a WWP group, why
not an API writers group? True, those are more tool oriented. But there's a
copyeditors group, too. And an XML-DOC group, . . . Also, no offense
intended, but I know several writers who just find TechWr-L too voluminous
to subscribe to, but might not mind subscribing to a more focused group.

We'll see what folks response is, and my guess is some discussions might
come up on both lists. So far, folks have been enthusiastic about the API
group in their notes to me.

Lydia


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