Re: A Good Problem, but a Problem Nonetheless...

["Mike Starr" <mikestarr-techwr-l -at- writestarr -dot- com>]

Sounds to me like you need a promotion to publications manager and an
assistant who's skilled in the font-fondling aspects of things. That'd free
you to address the critical documentation concerns. Your director wins that
way because she adds to her organization within the company and still has
someone available to address her immediate concerns. You win because you get
a promotion (and theoretically a raise).

Mike
--
Mike Starr                            WriteStarr Information Services
Technical Writer   -   Online Help Developer   -    Website developer
Graphic Designer    -    Desktop Publisher   -       MS Office Expert
Phone: (262) 694-1028 - Tollfree: (877) 892-1028 - Fax:(262) 697-6334
Email: mike -at- writestarr -dot- com      -      Web: http://www.writestarr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "TECHWR-L Administrator" <admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2007 8:54 PM
Subject: FWD: A Good Problem, but a Problem Nonetheless...

> Forwarded anonymously on request. TECHWR-L Admin.
> &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
>
>
> I could really use the input of the TECHWR-L community here.
>
> After seven years as a contractor, I took a full time job four years ago
> as a lone tech writer (at a 600 person company who never had a tech
> writer before). It has been a great run - I have a reasoonable workload,
> a grea deal of latitude about how I approach my job, and respect at all
> levels of the company. So what's the problem?
>
> In addition to my TW background, I also have a diversified business
> background. I would like to focus on the technical end - document
> software, run SQL queries, write release notes, etc. My director is
> trying (and has been all along) to direct me to the business end, and I
> wind up doing a lot of business document "font fondling" on things like
> business continuity plans, operating budgets, Org charts, etc.
>
> My concern is as follows:
>
> * I want to focus on the technical end, and am concerned I'm losing
> skills and knowledge
> * I suspect she may be trying to keep me in her own area for her own
> needs (I really feel that it's a waste of my company's time and money to
> have me prettying up operating plans, when there is a great deal of
> technical writing needed by other areas.)
>
> Here are my questions:
> * Is my situation typical? Are any of you in a similar one?
> * Are my concerns about losing my skills justified?
> * Should I raise a flag about being a wasted resource?
> * A I out of line to say that I want to focus on technical matters, and
> that I feel it's not the best use of my time and their resources to have
> me where I am?
>
> -Long Time Techwrler
>
>
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printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
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