Re: OK, new topic: How long does it take for a template to become stable

[Melonie Holliman <melonie -dot- holliman -at- TXEXMTA4 -dot- AMD -dot- COM>]

Howdy,

My very favorite Dilbert is the one where Tina the Tech Writer
is trying to get technical information out of him while he comments
on the color and style of the brochure.

Maybe it is inherent in engineering behavior. I have seen it happen
again and again. And, most of the time, the input is absolutely
ludicrous! And the worst thing I could possibly do is tell them
I don't appreciate the input. That is an opening for a long discussion
on why not.

After beating my head against the "input" wall many, many times,
I have learned to say: "Thank you for that input. I will consider it."
And I do--for about a minute. Every once in a while I have used it;
most of the time I just snicker and go on.

Melonie R. Holliman
Technical Writer
CPD Marketing
Advanced Micro Devices

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Posada [SMTP:jposada01 -at- YAHOO -dot- COM]
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 1999 1:05 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      OK, new topic: How long does it take for a template to
> become stable
>
> Let's say you are creating a template from scratch, as
> opposed to ripping it off from a previous
> contract/position.  :-)
>
> You are at a new position, you are seeing the SW for
> the first time as you are writing about it.
>
> Major undertaking, maybe 200-300 pages, 10-12 sections.
> No Style Guide.
>
> How long does it take for your template to settle down?
>  You know the drill...you create the template as you
> see fit, maybe takes you 2-3 days. You then start
> cranking out pages and showing them to interested
> parties.  Now the comments start coming in...
>
> NO, not the comments about how you've written something
> incorrectly and here's the right way...but instead,
> "Gee, can you change the spacing between bullets? Can
> you move the header to the left about a tenth of an
> inch? The type is kinda small. Do you have to go 4
> levels of TOC? I want it to look like it was done in
> Word. I want it to look like a MAN page. I want it
> 8-1/2 by 11, I want it 6 by 9 etc., etc., etc."
>
> Granted, you may use or not use any of the
> suggestions...except the ones from your boss' boss'
> boss. However, just how long does it take before they
> stop noticing the font style of the header and that
> what you just wrote about may end up ripping someone's
> arm off?
>
> John Posada
>
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