TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> > From: Bianca Thomas [mailto:bmt -at- icon -dot- co -dot- za]
> > ...editor says I assume too much knowledge on the part of the
> > readers and I must simplify more. I am finding this really
> > hard and am wondering whether any of you have similar problems? How do
> > you deal with them? It is a real struggle for me.
>
Mike Huber replied:
> I imagine explaining it to one of my children.
> And sometimes, I actually DO explain it to one of my children.
>
> Then I write down what I said or imagined I said, and rework it to fit the
> style and format of the publication.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In a similar vein, I worked with my 66-year old father as he learned
computers and the internet for the first time this past year. Very
eye-opening! He kept exclaiming things like "This doesn't look like a
desktop to me!" and "Why do they assume I know what XXXX means?"