Just about every company has someone who is excellent at writing, and nobody knows your applications like the people that you work with. I would see who in the office might be good at it. Receptionist, salesperson etc...etc... and then sit them down with the developer and more than likely they can come up with something that is not too techie
Douglas Brown Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Leder" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Talk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 9:18 AM Subject: RE: Writing good manuals and help systems > Matthew, > I know that where I am located (Columbus, OH) there is a chapter of a > professional organzation called Society of Technical Writers(?) or > Association of Technical Writers(?). Typically, in an association such > as that, there are a number of freelancers, some specialized in Software > Documentation, that may be of help to you. > > As far as the how and why you'd use the product, you may want to > consider a strategic planner, and/or do brainstorming sessions with the > development staff to come up with short blurbs which could then be > organized into an outline form or model for the writing staff. > > I don't know if this answers your question but I HTH. > > Thanks, > Mark > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Matthew Fusfield [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:05 AM > To: CF-Talk > Subject: SOT: Writing good manuals and help systems > > > Hi there, > Hoping to get a few opinions on this topic. Most of my company's CF work > thus far has been custom solutions, but recently we've developed some > apps that we can distribute as a product. (ie download and install on > top of CF server) One of the challenges we've uncovered is coming up > with a decent manual and help system. What we've found is that the > developers aren't always the best people to write the end-user manual - > often we'll come up with documentation that is too technical or ends up > being a step-by-step tutorial through the easiest tasks, never > addressing the more difficult tasks or "the big picture" of how and why > you'd use our product. > > I've worked with firms before that have their own staff of technical > writers or outsource this sort of thing; just wanted to see if anyone > has any other thoughts on the topic. > > Thanks, > > Matt > > Matthew I. Fusfield > Manager of Data Systems Development http://www.ins-business.com/es > (856) 401-9000 Ext: 1015 > > > ______________________________________________________________________ Get the mailserver that powers this list at http://www.coolfusion.com FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
