[TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
Are we whining or whinging yet? Grin. It's all very simple really: 1) Everyone at your company has been writing in their native language since the age of two. They all consider themselves experts. They see nothing special in technical writers. And, all things considered, they'd rather have an SME bring their specialized knowledge to the job rather than some tech writer. This is especially true now that few pubs departments output to press. 2) Documentation is overhead. A cost center. I know you can itemize online help and installation and maintenance manual along with the actual product on the bill that gets sent to the customer, but you don't. I know you could charge extra for those items. But, really, we don't--even if you charge for printed docs, you don't get credit for it. I know good docs save support costs, but nobody measures that in any meaningful way. Documentation is overhead. Overhead is bad. Overhead cuts down stockholder profits and CEO bonuses and, more directly, your manager's bonuses. 3) There are other countries with decent educational systems, such as India, where people speak English very well (better than your high school French, n'est-ce pas?), and they charge 1/5 of what in house writers cost. It's just writing. We've all been doing that since 2nd grade. It's not hard. There you have it. What to do? 1) Become an SME. Learn as much as you can about the products you document. Become one with them. Become the expert. 2) Learn about your own profession. Become an uber-geek of technical writing. 3) Make friends. I am not convinced buying the SMEs and managers lunch, or stopping by with chocolates, or washing and waxing their cars before they leave for the day really does much ... but if it makes you feel better, then go ahead. Well, am off to take minutes at a project meeting ... l8r. (j/k) Cheers. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Swallow Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 6:44 PM To: Beth Agnew Cc: tcp@techcommpros.com Subject: Re: [TCP] Creeping Deadlines WARNING: The following is likely to ruffle some feathers but it needs to be said. Documentation groups are usually treated as afterthoughts because they allow themselves to be treated that way. DISCLAIMER: Important Notice * This e-mail may contain information that is confidential, privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, do not duplicate or redistribute it by any means. Please delete it and any attachments and notify the sender that you have received it in error. Unintended recipients are prohibited from taking action on the basis of information in this e-mail.E-mail messages may contain computer viruses or other defects, may not be accurately replicated on other systems, or may be intercepted, deleted or interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. If you are not comfortable with the risks associated with e-mail messages, you may decide not to use e-mail to communicate with IPC. IPC reserves the right, to the extent and under circumstances permitted by applicable law, to retain, monitor and intercept e-mail messages to and from its systems. __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
I am not convinced buying the SMEs and managers lunch, or stopping by with chocolates, or washing and waxing their cars before they leave for the day really does much ... but if it makes you feel better, then go ahead. I don't think it's a great idea to act that way. Food service and other blue-collar people don't tend to get a lot of respect from engineering if they try to give input into a product development cycle. If you want to be treated like the other engineering types, act the way that the most-respected people in the group do. Ask well-though-out questions and be prepared with answers to questions that people may have of you. Don't downplay your abilities or what you do because people will respect you less. State your requirements clearly and calmly. Don't giggle when you talk or speak in such a way that every statement that you make sounds like a question. Both will make you sound less intelligent. Watch people's faces. You can tell when someone has crossed a line by the looks on people's faces or by the looks that they give each other. You don't want to be the cause of those looks! Donna - CONFIDENTIAL- This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and may also be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not review, use, copy, or distribute this message. If you receive this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and then delete this email. __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
Creeping Deadlines, Ruffled Feathers A martial arts/tech writing crossover movie? -- Milan Davidovic http://altmilan.blogspot.com http://www.terminus1525.ca/studio/view/2758 __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
On 1/11/07, Gene Kim-Eng [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 4) The perception of technical writing as a pink collar occupation. Check this out: Dyeing The Pink Collar Mauve: Understanding Technical Communication As A Gendered Solution To Learning, Career And Information Technology Demands http://www.wallnetwork.ca/research/BJubasPaper.pdf The development of more feminized niches within the IT field is presented as a response by some women to the learning, career and IT demands of the knowledge-based society. Technical communication seems to be one of these niches. -- Milan Davidovic http://altmilan.blogspot.com http://www.terminus1525.ca/studio/view/2758 __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
Well slap my... oh, nevermind... On 1/11/07, Milan Davidovic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 1/11/07, Gene Kim-Eng [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 4) The perception of technical writing as a pink collar occupation. Check this out: Dyeing The Pink Collar Mauve: Understanding Technical Communication As A Gendered Solution To Learning, Career And Information Technology Demands http://www.wallnetwork.ca/research/BJubasPaper.pdf The development of more feminized niches within the IT field is presented as a response by some women to the learning, career and IT demands of the knowledge-based society. Technical communication seems to be one of these niches. -- Bill Swallow HATT List Owner WWP-Users List Owner Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager http://techcommdood.blogspot.com avid homebrewer and proud beer snob I see your OOO message and raise you a clue. __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
On 1/11/07, Milan Davidovic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 1/11/07, Gene Kim-Eng [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 4) The perception of technical writing as a pink collar occupation. Check this out: Dyeing The Pink Collar Mauve: Understanding Technical Communication As A Gendered Solution To Learning, Career And Information Technology Demands http://www.wallnetwork.ca/research/BJubasPaper.pdf The development of more feminized niches within the IT field is presented as a response by some women to the learning, career and IT demands of the knowledge-based society. Technical communication seems to be one of these niches. Gendered? When did gender become a verb? It's actually pretty impressive: the first paragraph of the abstract uses forms of gender as a noun, adjective, and verb. And I had no idea I worked in a feminized niche. I just thought a lot of technical writers were women. ;-) Bob Love people. Use things. Not vice-versa. -- Kelly Rothaus __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
On 1/11/07, James Barrow [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: LOL!! *That* was funny! I'm here all week; avoid the veal, tip your waitron... -- Milan Davidovic http://altmilan.blogspot.com http://www.terminus1525.ca/studio/view/2758 __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Ruffled feathers RE: Creeping Deadlines
One item in this caught my eye: One woman spoke of having to turn 'herself into a different kind of person' in order to perform and another talked of learning to 'fake it' As if this was some new phenomenon in the professional world.. I've been doing it for the past thirty years. Gene Kim-Eng - Original Message - From: Milan Davidovic [EMAIL PROTECTED] Check this out: Dyeing The Pink Collar Mauve: Understanding Technical Communication As A Gendered Solution To Learning, Career And Information Technology Demands __ Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help technology and PDF output. Learn more at www.doctohelp.com/tcp. DITA West 2007--Use a discount code of TECHCOMMPROS to get a discount rate of $200 off the $800 price if you register before close of business January 15, 2007. http://www.travelthepath.com/conf/dita2007.shtml ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Need help? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
