Comments on: The Question No One Asked Me at the Career Advice Panel, Thank Goodness http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:22:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Polypropylene : http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-166737 Polypropylene : Tue, 26 Oct 2010 08:42:50 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-166737 i always seek career advice from my parents and from industry professionals~-" i always seek career advice from my parents and from industry professionals~-”

]]> By: Jim G http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-130361 Jim G Thu, 01 May 2008 18:54:26 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-130361 Hi Tom, Well, I've been a technical writer for 30 years, and I still enjoy it. I've written service manuals, repair manuals, marketing literature, newsletters, and documentation/Help files ... and I still enjoy it. Of course, when I was in college, there weren't any technical communication degree programs (at least, not where I went to school). So I have a degree in journalism, instead. But I still enjoy learning new things, and then writing about them. I enjoy layout, design, etc. Getting paid to write, IMHO, is a pretty neat thing. Hi Tom,

Well, I’ve been a technical writer for 30 years, and I still enjoy it. I’ve written service manuals, repair manuals, marketing literature, newsletters, and documentation/Help files … and I still enjoy it.

Of course, when I was in college, there weren’t any technical communication degree programs (at least, not where I went to school). So I have a degree in journalism, instead.

But I still enjoy learning new things, and then writing about them. I enjoy layout, design, etc.

Getting paid to write, IMHO, is a pretty neat thing.

]]> By: Technical Writing -- Worth it, Interesting, Creative, Well-Paid, Hours? | I'd Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-129632 Technical Writing -- Worth it, Interesting, Creative, Well-Paid, Hours? | I'd Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:34:59 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-129632 [...] The Question No One Asked Me at the Career Advice Panel, Thank Goodness [...] [...] The Question No One Asked Me at the Career Advice Panel, Thank Goodness [...]

]]> By: Ridge View Media http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-129259 Ridge View Media Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:38:01 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-129259 www.RidgeViewMedia.com/blog Yes, and Maybe. I love writing, and I have loved my years in technical writing. This profession placed me in positions where I was a technical writer AND and instructional designer and trainer. How lucky I've been! Now? e-Learning instructional systems design and development. Yes, I get to play with cool tools, and strive to create the best solutions for clients. How lucky I am! And, I'd encourage a college student to explore this profession. http://www.RidgeViewMedia.com/blog

Yes, and Maybe. I love writing, and I have loved my years in technical writing. This profession placed me in positions where I was a technical writer AND and instructional designer and trainer. How lucky I’ve been!

Now? e-Learning instructional systems design and development. Yes, I get to play with cool tools, and strive to create the best solutions for clients. How lucky I am! And, I’d encourage a college student to explore this profession.

]]> By: Jane | What About Mom? http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-129257 Jane | What About Mom? Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:23:42 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-129257 Funny you say that your blog is your "lifeline." I feel the same way about mine, and my job couldn't be more different from (than?) yours. <em>Jane | What About Mom?'s last blog post..<a href='http://www.whataboutmomblog.com/2008/04/02/amen/'>Amen</a></em> Funny you say that your blog is your “lifeline.” I feel the same way about mine, and my job couldn’t be more different from (than?) yours.

Jane | What About Mom?’s last blog post..Amen

]]> By: semicolon http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-129253 semicolon Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:59:41 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-129253 <strong>If I knew then what I know now......</strong> Would I mind being a TW in 20 years, writing manuals? Maybe not!... If I knew then what I know now……

Would I mind being a TW in 20 years, writing manuals? Maybe not!…

]]> By: stefanie http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-129252 stefanie Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:29:47 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-129252 I think a lot of technical writers are drawn to the web. In general, people are more patient with print documents. They expect wordiness and fluff because that's all they saw growing up. On the web though, we expect to get information quick. If a site isn't to the point, I'll just leave. I think this gives technical writers an opportunity to write and format their documents better. My high school English teacher would have killed me for putting headings, lists, pictures, etc. in my research essays, but I think that sort of thing is becoming more acceptable--probably because we are getting used to seeing it, thanks to the web. The technology is what makes technical writing interesting for me too, and since the world is moving more and more information to the web, I think technical writing programs should naturally be more technical. At USU, we get a lot of training in theory, writing, and editing and some in design. I think that more technology could easily be taught without detracting from the more typical technical writing classes. I'd like to know more about HTML and CSS and to learn XML, how to make a podcast, use a program like Captivate, maybe even some basic Flash. I wouldn't expect anything in depth, but it would be nice to have a class that at least familiarizes us with technology. I think a lot of technical writers are drawn to the web. In general, people are more patient with print documents. They expect wordiness and fluff because that’s all they saw growing up. On the web though, we expect to get information quick. If a site isn’t to the point, I’ll just leave. I think this gives technical writers an opportunity to write and format their documents better. My high school English teacher would have killed me for putting headings, lists, pictures, etc. in my research essays, but I think that sort of thing is becoming more acceptable–probably because we are getting used to seeing it, thanks to the web.

The technology is what makes technical writing interesting for me too, and since the world is moving more and more information to the web, I think technical writing programs should naturally be more technical. At USU, we get a lot of training in theory, writing, and editing and some in design. I think that more technology could easily be taught without detracting from the more typical technical writing classes. I’d like to know more about HTML and CSS and to learn XML, how to make a podcast, use a program like Captivate, maybe even some basic Flash. I wouldn’t expect anything in depth, but it would be nice to have a class that at least familiarizes us with technology.

]]> By: Sairee http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/04/01/the-question-no-one-asked-me-at-the-career-advice-panel-thank-goodness/comment-page-1/#comment-129246 Sairee Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:06:47 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=1448#comment-129246 Tom, While there are no correct answers to these hypothetical questions, knowing you and reading your blog I cant imagine you in a profession far removed from technical writing - blogger yes, web designer yes, but away from technology and computers - no please no - we will miss you. I am not a technical writer but I love reading your blog and it has made the profession extremely appealing for an outsider like me. I am sure if you asked anyone in any career, we all would want to try our hand at something else, but to translate that into reality needs real desire and determination - more than we have to continue in our existing situations. Keep up the good work and keep writing! We will keep reading :-) Tom,
While there are no correct answers to these hypothetical questions, knowing you and reading your blog I cant imagine you in a profession far removed from technical writing – blogger yes, web designer yes, but away from technology and computers – no please no – we will miss you.

I am not a technical writer but I love reading your blog and it has made the profession extremely appealing for an outsider like me.

I am sure if you asked anyone in any career, we all would want to try our hand at something else, but to translate that into reality needs real desire and determination – more than we have to continue in our existing situations.

Keep up the good work and keep writing! We will keep reading :-)

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