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.
> > "They are so obsessed with "shaping information" and other touchy feely
> crap, that they can't produce valuable, insightful material."
>
> Although the posting has a harsh tone and makes sweeping, undefended
> generalizations, it does raise an interesting point. If writers don't use a
> process that is as clearly defined and repeatable as software development
> can be, the work appears to be unfocussed and "touchy-feely". If they _do_
> use such a process, but can't explain it or defend any facet of it, things
> are slightly better -- but still bad.
Actually, I consider clearly defined (hence we spent a lot of time masticating
over them and documenting them) processes as touchy-feely crap.
> Of course, many software developers don't use a clearly defined and
> repeatable process, either. But they build the product, so they often have
> more wiggle room in the organization...
And good writers can often mirror such environments. General goals and deadlines
are set with processes and procedures developing holistically and gradually over
time vs. forced into existence without substantial comprehension of the
information being shaped, generated, managed, etc.
Andrew Plato
__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Buy ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 6.0, the most powerful SINGLE SOURCE HELP
AUTHORING TOOL for MS Word. SAVE $100 on the full version and $50 on the
upgrade. Offer ends 10/31/2002 (code: DTH102250). http://www.componentone.com/d2hlist1002
All-new RoboHelp X3 is now shipping! Get single sourcing, print-quality
documentation, conditional text and much more, in the most monumental
release ever. Save $100! Order online at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
