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Subject:Re: Tech writing, publicity in US From:JPG3 <jpg3 -at- AOL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 7 Sep 1994 08:25:05 -0400
In article<something> <someone> writes: " It seems that most people
don't know what a tech writer does, and many who do know don't like
us! "
So, what do you tell 'em you do? I use a couple of different "lines" to
soften up cocktail party acquantances. The first line is to say something
like "I write books that no one reads." (As a matter of fact, this is what
my daughter tells people I do.) This usually gets at least a chuckle and
some sort of follow up question. If they seem the least bit interested,
I'll say something like" Yeah, I write computer books. It's a lot like
being Arthur Conan Doyle for a living - I spend half my time as Sherlock
Holmes loking for clues, turning over rocks, talking to recalcitrant
people, and then the other half as Dr. Watson writing down what I find for
the amusement and enlightenment of my audience."
As with most things in life, if your initial approach is made with some
humor and self deprication, you have a better chance of succeeding. No
need to blow people away at the beginning - wait until you have 'em snared
first.
John Garison
jgarison -at- zdi -dot- ziff -dot- com
