Re: A Test for Writers

[Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM>]

Matthew Shenker writes:
>Good point about a "writing test" being insulting.

>My line of work is grant-writing, and part what I do is meet face-to-face
>with foundation people, while the other (greater) part is write proposals.
> The perfect "test" for me is a good job interview with the senior
>development officer (do I impress you as someone personable enough to be a
>representatiuve of this organization?) and the cover letter (is it a
>persuasive document, as a proposal would have to be?).  My belief is this: as
>a professional writer, you're tested all the time because you use language
>all the time, and your language is you.  Anyone competent enough to LISTEN
>will have enough "test" material to decide on your qualifications.  If
>someone needs a further "test" of your abilities, that person's not getting
>it, and is not a good judge of writing and language anyway.

The only problem with this theory is that it doesn't work.  I
started using simple tests after engaging several articulate,
charming, self-confident, presentable contractors, only to discover
that only one of them could write their way out of a paper bag --
and he was the least polished and articulate of the lot.  But
he could write, he understood the source material, and he understood
engineers.  All of the others CLAIMED they had been doing all that
for years.  They THOUGHT they were God's gift.  But their work
was muddled, incompetent, and late.

While I, too, find cover letters useful, they are only useful in
weeding out people who are obviously incompetent.  I've seen plenty
of good cover letters from people who choke as soon as they're faced
with technical material, or the need to write more than a few pages,
or the need to deal with engineers.

I've found the "toaster test" to be very helpful.  People who are
professionals in highly technical technical writing typically laugh
and dictate their entry to me after perhaps two seconds of
contemplation.  People with no grasp of how to deal with an audience
of engineers usually take the assignment home, and flame out.

No one's ever refused to take the toaster test, but I think I've
just discovered a second benefit:  it weeds out overly touchy
people, who probably would have a lot of trouble in the rough-and-
tumble atmosphere at WEITEK, anyway.

        -- Robert