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A good writer is someone who is interested in things. I find it hard
to imagine why someone who has the active interest in things around them
that would make them a good tech writer would not have sought a degree in
some substantial subject area.
In my experience, the degrees which correlate well to success as a tech
writer are history, theology, psychology, and sociology. Those which
correlate least are English and technical writing.
Since when is English not a "substantial subject area"? Literature as a
whole encompasses every subject area imaginable...in fact, the only limits
are the limits we place on our imagination. As an English major, I had
always enjoyed the fact that I was not forced to focus my college career in
a single area (say computer science), but could instead read and study
literature about subjects that ranged from women's lib to the great plains
to the inner workings of Microsoft. The study of literature not only helps
students to think critically about what they read, but also offers the
potential to diversify one's knowledge in an amazing number of ways. To
think that anyone would disparage an English education for its lack of
"substance" is mystifying to me. Most English majors don't "just" care
about writing...but about reading as well, and reading, at its core, is
reflective of the desire to learn and expand the way one thinks and views
the world. It makes me shiver that people in a position to hire would
assume that English majors are too narrow-minded to make good tech
writers...when, so often, just the opposite is true.
<END RANT>
<RESTART WORK>
Jennifer Jelinek
English major/tech writing minor/tech writer/ web designer/ marketing
services manager
Sheboygan, WI
P.S. thanks to everyone who gave me management advice a few weeks ago. I've
been way busy, so I forgot to thank everyone. Your help was MUCH
appreciated.
