Comments on: Can Others Do Your Job? http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:02:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-140186 Tom Thu, 21 May 2009 04:37:19 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-140186 Josh, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I like knowing that you read it from time to time. I agree with your point, and must confess to be guilty of the same when it comes to design and other fields. To me, although I have gut reactions about good and bad design, I don't have the discriminating taste of a professional interaction designer. But even without professional training, I like to think that more often than not I can pick out a good interface design from a poor one. Same with non-writers and writing. Although they may lack the analytical skills and ability to discern good documentation from poor documentation, I'm betting that at least three quarters of the time their gut reaction guides them correctly. Josh, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I like knowing that you read it from time to time. I agree with your point, and must confess to be guilty of the same when it comes to design and other fields. To me, although I have gut reactions about good and bad design, I don’t have the discriminating taste of a professional interaction designer. But even without professional training, I like to think that more often than not I can pick out a good interface design from a poor one. Same with non-writers and writing. Although they may lack the analytical skills and ability to discern good documentation from poor documentation, I’m betting that at least three quarters of the time their gut reaction guides them correctly.

]]> By: Ivan Walsh http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-140156 Ivan Walsh Wed, 20 May 2009 01:55:13 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-140156 Hi Josh, <in the eyes of these semi-literates, anyone can write I think you're a little harsh on your collegues here. I doubt if they are semi-literate. They are probably v well educated but may not have the same vested interest you and I have in the std of documentation. FWIW: someone once reminded me, "if developers could write good user guides, you'd (ie little ol Ivan) would be out of a job." and of course they can do things I can never do. maybe a little repect is due here. just a thought. Ivan Hi Josh,

<in the eyes of these semi-literates, anyone can write

I think you’re a little harsh on your collegues here. I doubt if they are semi-literate. They are probably v well educated but may not have the same vested interest you and I have in the std of documentation.

FWIW: someone once reminded me, “if developers could write good user guides, you’d (ie little ol Ivan) would be out of a job.”

and of course they can do things I can never do.

maybe a little repect is due here. just a thought.

Ivan

]]> By: Josh http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-140150 Josh Tue, 19 May 2009 21:21:40 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-140150 I think one problem is that many of our collegues are so unfamiliar with reading and writing that they aren't literate enough to tell the difference between good documentation and bad documentation. To them, the world of words is a strange, foreign place they've never quite figured out. As a result, they don't know why one draft of a manual might be better than another. They don't know which of two possible sensences might be more clear. If you showed them two magazines and asked them which one was designed more effectively, they'd meet your question with a blank stare. So, without basic analytical skills, these people assume all writing is equal -- including the lousy writing they might do themselves. Thus, in the eyes of these semi-literates, anyone can write. I think one problem is that many of our collegues are so unfamiliar with reading and writing that they aren’t literate enough to tell the difference between good documentation and bad documentation. To them, the world of words is a strange, foreign place they’ve never quite figured out.

As a result, they don’t know why one draft of a manual might be better than another. They don’t know which of two possible sensences might be more clear. If you showed them two magazines and asked them which one was designed more effectively, they’d meet your question with a blank stare.

So, without basic analytical skills, these people assume all writing is equal — including the lousy writing they might do themselves.

Thus, in the eyes of these semi-literates, anyone can write.

]]> By: Janie http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-140100 Janie Sat, 16 May 2009 22:17:32 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-140100 I presume it was also John who complained in the other thread that no one read manuals. John, that's because not everyone can write them. People assume that because they can write letters and lists, they can write professionally. That's like thinking that because you can walk and skip and dance at a wedding you can dance professionally. My first question for these amateurs is: Do you know what to leave out? I presume it was also John who complained in the other thread that no one read manuals.

John, that’s because not everyone can write them.

People assume that because they can write letters and lists, they can write professionally.

That’s like thinking that because you can walk and skip and dance at a wedding you can dance professionally.

My first question for these amateurs is: Do you know what to leave out?

]]> By: site update service http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-139983 site update service Fri, 08 May 2009 20:32:43 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-139983 thus one must see to it that the person whom you want to write for you must understand and know the standards of your company. professionalism and keeping your articles readable for your niche is the key. thus one must see to it that the person whom you want to write for you must understand and know the standards of your company. professionalism and keeping your articles readable for your niche is the key.

]]> By: manish http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-139948 manish Tue, 05 May 2009 05:41:21 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-139948 hello, my good self manish kumar i need the job hello, my good self manish kumar i need the job

]]> By: Jasmine http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-139847 Jasmine Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:09:46 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-139847 While I agree whole-heartedly, I have to point out that tech writers are certainly not alone when it comes to defending their positions and justifying their existence. I used to be a trainer and when a staff member or team can't or won't do something the right way despite training, fingers point to Training. And when budgets are cut, training is up there for taking the earliest and biggest cuts. I had to go a whole year on a zero dollar budget, then had to explain why I wasn't running any courses but spending my time updating the manuals. While I agree whole-heartedly, I have to point out that tech writers are certainly not alone when it comes to defending their positions and justifying their existence. I used to be a trainer and when a staff member or team can’t or won’t do something the right way despite training, fingers point to Training. And when budgets are cut, training is up there for taking the earliest and biggest cuts. I had to go a whole year on a zero dollar budget, then had to explain why I wasn’t running any courses but spending my time updating the manuals.

]]> By: Raj http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-139803 Raj Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:01:28 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-139803 People also think that good oral communication skills can translate to good writing. This is not the case. Most of them write terrible user documentation, that too in substandard English. People also think that good oral communication skills can translate to good writing. This is not the case. Most of them write terrible user documentation, that too in substandard English.

]]> By: Kelly Riley http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-139772 Kelly Riley Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:57:33 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-139772 Thank you Joe. Your post is well said. I wish I could have everyone at every company read this article and your post so I wouldn't have to repeat myself, defend myself (or what I do), and constantly show my value. Thank you Joe. Your post is well said. I wish I could have everyone at every company read this article and your post so I wouldn’t have to repeat myself, defend myself (or what I do), and constantly show my value.

]]> By: Craig http://idratherbewriting.com/2009/04/23/can-others-do-your-job/comment-page-1/#comment-139690 Craig Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:27:01 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/?p=3450#comment-139690 Agreed. Misconceptions abound. Correcting them is neverending, and, in some cases, impossible. Agreed. Misconceptions abound. Correcting them is neverending, and, in some cases, impossible.

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