Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?

Subject: Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?
From: Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:41:11 -0500

Right now I'm scanning this Google search:
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=examples+of+poorly+written+instruction+manuals

I'm about to dive into this *Forbes* article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2012/10/31/how-to-cope-with-useless-user-manuals/#7b1d71d93a26

Chris Morton



â Substantive Editing â Technical Writing â Proofreading
â Marketing Expertise â Mentoring
Click to
<http://t.sidekickopen68.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJN7t5XYgdnqQxW7fsH3H4XrddKW1pNgV-56dMhqf2Q-c6C02?t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpub%2Fchris-morton%2F2%2F166%2F6ba&si=6020636811198464&pi=dd7d2d63-f597-4222-bfd5-fb77974e2024>


On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 10:39 AM, Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>
wrote:

> I can't stand *Dummies* books, Craig. Usually the humor is at the Adam
> Sandler/Mr. Bean level. Not my cuppa.
>
> Chris Morton
>
>
>
> â Substantive Editing â Technical Writing â Proofreading
> â Marketing Expertise â Mentoring
> Click to
>
> <http://t.sidekickopen68.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJN7t5XYgdnqQxW7fsH3H4XrddKW1pNgV-56dMhqf2Q-c6C02?t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpub%2Fchris-morton%2F2%2F166%2F6ba&si=6020636811198464&pi=96a12667-7627-44fb-9750-a7bfe0e453e7>
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 10:38 AM, Cardimon, Craig <ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com>
> wrote:
>
>> I always liked the Dummies books as launching pads. Great just to get you
>> started.
>>
>> Anyone else use Dummies as starting points?
>>
>> ~Craig
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
>> techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
>> Chris Morton
>> Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 10:35 AM
>> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>> Subject: Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?
>>
>> Specifically I'm interested in a somewhat breezy book (but not like
>> *Dummies*) that clearly explains the problems the problems that can ensue
>> with a manual that is poorly written/laid out.
>>
>> Chris Morton
>>
>>
>>
>> â Substantive Editing â Technical Writing â Proofreading
>> â Marketing Expertise â Mentoring Click to <
>> http://t.sidekickopen68.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x
>> 6l2B9nMJN7t5XYgdnqQxW7fsH3H4XrddKW1pNgV-56dMhqf2Q-c6C02?t=
>> https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpub%2Fchris-morton%2F2%2F166%2F6ba&si=
>> 6020636811198464&pi=7db9504b-239d-4442-cc97-f40fe7da56e4>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 10:13 AM, Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Considering the following (as well as usability works by Steve Krug),
>> > I'm wondering if there is a similar volume that takes a good look at
>> > user manuals. Your recommendations welcome, although each should be
>> > easy read in keeping with what Redish and Krug are conveying. (I have
>> > a low tolerance for high-brow studies written by PhDs.)
>> >
>> > *Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works* by Ginny
>> > Redish
>> >
>> > "Web site design and development continues to become more sophisticated.
>> > An important part of this maturity originates with well-laid-out and
>> > well-written content. Ginny Redish is a world-renowned expert on
>> > information design and how to produce clear writing in plain language
>> > for the web. All of the invaluable information that she shared in the
>> > first edition is included with numerous new examples. New information
>> > on content strategy for web sites, search engine optimization (SEO),
>> > and social media make this once again the only book you need to own to
>> > optimize your writing for the web."
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > Chris Morton
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > â Substantive Editing â Technical Writing â Proofreading
>> > â Marketing Expertise â Mentoring Click to
>> >
>> > <http://t.sidekickopen68.com/e1t/c/5/f18dQhb0S7lC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9nMJN7
>> > t5XYgdnqQxW7fsH3H4XrddKW1pNgV-56dMhqf2Q-c6C02?t=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.link
>> > edin.com%2Fpub%2Fchris-morton%2F2%2F166%2F6ba&si=6020636811198464&pi=2
>> > 0d48203-2891-4cb8-fd95-abe81b7e7276>
>> >
>> >
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy
>> and content development | http://techwhirl.com
>>
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>
>> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com -dot-
>>
>> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
>> techwr-l-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>>
>>
>> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
>> http://www.techwhirl.com/email-discussion-groups/ for more resources and
>> info.
>>
>> Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our
>> online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
>>
>> Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public
>> email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
>>
>> Information contained in this e-mail transmission is privileged and
>> confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, do not
>> read, distribute or reproduce this transmission (including any
>> attachments). If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately
>> notify the sender by telephone or email reply.
>>
>
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.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-leave -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com


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

Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com

Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives


Follow-Ups:

References:
Book: What makes a great user manual?: From: Chris Morton
Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?: From: Chris Morton
RE: Book: What makes a great user manual?: From: Cardimon, Craig
Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?: From: Chris Morton

Previous by Author: Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?
Next by Author: Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?
Previous by Thread: Re: Book: What makes a great user manual?
Next by Thread: RE: Book: What makes a great user manual?


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


Sponsored Ads