Re: Is technical writing a sellout or fallback career?

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

I don't think a someone "needs" to have a specific
background, training or even experience.  It is simply
that depending on what innate talents you have and
what particular field you want to be in, certain types
can make it easier than others to develop expertise
and convince others that you have it.

"In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for
Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But
I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant.
Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great
artist can come from anywhere."

(I haven't yet experienced a rat becoming a writer,
but I have had one or two cases where things sort
of went the other way around)

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>
>I always find it fascinating when someone implies that the type of
> excellence in writing required for good technical writing can just be
> picked up (by, say, software developers who just happen to have 
> nothing
> better to do) while simultaneously suggesting that technical expertise
> needs to come through (or at least be evidenced by) "certification" or
> some other type of formal education.

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