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Subject:Re: Integrating a new writer From:Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 17 Feb 2005 11:55:15 -0500
> I'm also looking for some advice on sharing the work--my initial greedy
> thought of 'I'll do the interesting stuff; you do the boring scut work. Oh
> and also? Indexing." doesn't seem like the best way to parcel things out.
> Any thoughts on how to split up a two-product, 15-doc set?
Give the new writer the lead role (but not ultimate ownership of) the
docs for one of the products. Let the writer do A-Z for that product,
and turn to you for help when needed. Have weekly meetings to talk
about BOTH products and the doc progress on them, this way the writer
can provide a status and see how you do the same.
A 2-person team shouldn't be Master and Apprentice (unless one of you
wears a black robe and the other a black helmet). Give the writer
responsibility and direct access to you for assistance. By passing
along the crap work, you're not helping the writer grow and you're not
helping yourself out in bringing a potentially great writer up to
speed to help you out in the future with bigger issues.
So toss the new writer in, see if they sink or swim, and augment their
buoyancy as needed.
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