RE: Writing structured content [recap]

["Gordon McLean" <Gordon -dot- McLean -at- GrahamTechnology -dot- com>]

Thanks to everyone who has chosen to respond to my question.

The information mapping topics, whilst interesting, aren't really answering
my question. I asked, specifically, about "structured writing" or "writing
for single source", I also mentioned that I'm more interested in how best to
shift a docs team from writing chapters, to writing distinct chunks of
information. Hence why I titled my email "Writing structured content" not
"What is structured writing"... Too subtle, right?

The planning of those chunks is a separate exercise, with which I am already
au fait; I've read Hackos, Ament, Glushko and McGrath, and listened to
various speakers at X-Pubs a few weeks back, I've also implemented an
AuthorIT based single source system in the past. Of course, I should've
stated all that upfront but I thought my question was distinct enough.
Apparently not.

So, as part of a move to single source,  as well as deciding which method to
use, auditing the content, planning the breakdown of said content into
reusable chunks, deciding on tools, CMS (maybe) and so on... There is part
of that project which requires:

A. the rewriting of existing content
B. a distinct method of writing content in the future, which allows for
maximum re-use.

A couple of replies offlist suggested CherryLeaf and Mekon, both of which I
know and will be contacting soon.

I'll let the InfoMap crowd continue their spat but I'm dropping out. Thanks
to everyone who responded.

Gordon


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