Re: Honestly -- when an SME completely REWRITES your text ... GEEZ!

Subject: Re: Honestly -- when an SME completely REWRITES your text ... GEEZ!
From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:16:36 -0700

I assume that the very first thing you did was review what
the SME wrote to determine if by some chance it actually
might be "clarified" for your targeted reader compared
to your original text and that you determined it was not.
If that's not the case, then that's the first thing *I* would
do. Then, since you say it doesn't fit your "departmental
style," I'd work to resolve the style issues with the SME
without undoing his entire rewrite, and when the doc is
published, send the SME an email, copied to his boss,
thanking him for his assistance with the functional
description.

Depending on how you handle this, you have the
opportunity to either (a) compromise a bit on your
ownership of a small bit of your territory for a chance
to turn an SME into a new ally who has a personal
stake in the success of your document *and* help
improve that SME's writing, or (b) get insulted, stand
your ground and risk turning the SME into someone
who may resent having you around for the rest of your
time with the company. Your choice.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message -----
From: "Downing, David" <DavidDowning -at- users -dot- com>

> How would you take it -- and has anything like this happened to any of
> you?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ComponentOne Doc-To-Help gives you everything you need to author and
publish quality Help, Web, and print content. Perfect for technical
authors, developers, and policy writers. Download a FREE trial.
http://www.componentone.com/DocToHelp/

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.

Please move off-topic discussions to the Chat list, at:
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/listinfo/techwr-l-chat


References:
Honestly -- when an SME completely REWRITES your text ... GEEZ!: From: Downing, David

Previous by Author: Re: Dimensions for Landscape Manuals
Next by Author: Re: off topic?? In the job market again - contracting...
Previous by Thread: RE: Honestly -- when an SME completely REWRITES your text ... GEEZ!
Next by Thread: Re: Honestly -- when an SME completely REWRITES your text ... GEEZ!


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads