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Hub You - A Technical Writer Guide To Understanding Readers
Ah, the power of internet - you will find the internet encroaching in each and every aspect and facet of our lives. It has a wealth of information for those who seek knowledge, it has job opportunities, it offers one of the best platforms for doing business, etc. In other words, you can use the internet to do almost anything you want to do including selling your house online.If you are among those people who simply love the web and plan to us
Knowing your reader isn’t magic. It doesn’t take a crystal ball. It just takes thought, a little research, and good judgment.
About the Author: Karen Cohen publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about technical writing at http://www.technicalwritingtoday.com.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright: Dealing with Change in the Workplace - The Human Face
New technologies, global competition, changing values and lifestyles all mean change has become an accepted way of organizational life. Change is a given and you need to handle it well!Your role in dealing with change in the workplace is to come out the other side of the change with a positive outcome - regardless of whether you’re heading up the change drive or having to cope with navigating the waters of an unwanted change.Shock, Con
Another challenge to today’s technical writer is the difficulty in clarifying requirements for a particular project. Requirements definition and management seems to be a growing problem in business today. Too much time is spent on project scheduling without sufficient time spent clarifying the project. For example, when undertaking a large technical writing project such as a user manual for a piece of equipment, spend adequate time with the customer establishing the scope of information to be included in the document, a thumbnail sketch about the intended audience, the intended outcomes for the document, and the measurement for success of the project. Then and only then, begin project management activities such as a project schedule and configuration management plan.
So if one of the critical factors in technical writing is writing to the intended audience, how exactly can this be accomplished? In general, today’s readers follow these practices, (1) they prioritize what’s available to read, (2) they are strongly predisposed to like or dislike a piece based on visual impressions, (3) they skim and scan, (4) they want to know the how and why of a document before they read the details and (5) they totally judge a technical writer by the content and writing quality.
When creating a thumbnail sketch of a reader for a document to be written by a technical writer, keep the above points in mind. But more importantly, do your homework on the specific audience that will be the end users of a technical document. Technical writing is by it’s very nature, is about conveying information. Technical writing involves telling the reader what they want to know. Technical writing answers questions like who, what, when, where, why and most importantly, how. The answer to a how question is the bread and butter of technical writing.
So when approaching a technical writing project, take the time to think about your reader. Keep that thought in mind as you write. When it’s time to review and edit, renew your vision of the reader. Maintain a mental picture of the reader in your mind while you edit. Eliminate everything that’s unnecessary. Write to their level, not above or below it. Writing to the wrong level, either too elementary or too haughty has caused many projects to flop miserably. Don’t do it. As much as possible, put yourself in their shoes. Be aware of what the reader needs to know about the particular topic and answer all of their questions with your writing. Write clearly and without fluff.
Knowing your reader isn’t magic. It doesn’t take a crystal ball. It just takes thought, a little research, and good judgment.
About the Author: Karen Cohen publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about technical writing at http://www.technicalwritingtoday.com.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright: 188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Afterlife Act
The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.[The terminology is most often mt clarifying the project. For example, when undertaking a large technical writing project such as a user manual for a piece of equipment, spend adequate time with the customer establishing the scope of information to be included in the document, a thumbnail sketch about the intended audience, the intended outcomes for the document, and the measurement for success of the project. Then and only then, begin project management activities such as a project schedule and configuration management plan.
So if one of the critical factors in technical writing is writing to the intended audience, how exactly can this be accomplished? In general, today’s readers follow these practices, (1) they prioritize what’s available to read, (2) they are strongly predisposed to like or dislike a piece based on visual impressions, (3) they skim and scan, (4) they want to know the how and why of a document before they read the details and (5) they totally judge a technical writer by the content and writing quality.
When creating a thumbnail sketch of a reader for a document to be written by a technical writer, keep the above points in mind. But more importantly, do your homework on the specific audience that will be the end users of a technical document. Technical writing is by it’s very nature, is about conveying information. Technical writing involves telling the reader what they want to know. Technical writing answers questions like who, what, when, where, why and most importantly, how. The answer to a how question is the bread and butter of technical writing.
So when approaching a technical writing project, take the time to think about your reader. Keep that thought in mind as you write. When it’s time to review and edit, renew your vision of the reader. Maintain a mental picture of the reader in your mind while you edit. Eliminate everything that’s unnecessary. Write to their level, not above or below it. Writing to the wrong level, either too elementary or too haughty has caused many projects to flop miserably. Don’t do it. As much as possible, put yourself in their shoes. Be aware of what the reader needs to know about the particular topic and answer all of their questions with your writing. Write clearly and without fluff.
Knowing your reader isn’t magic. It doesn’t take a crystal ball. It just takes thought, a little research, and good judgment.
About the Author: Karen Cohen publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about technical writing at http://www.technicalwritingtoday.com.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright: Finding a Bankruptcy Attorney in New Hampshire
People living with debt that they can't handle have a few options to choose from. They can contact a debt or credit counsellor and try to work out a debt settlement plan. If this don't work, bankruptcy is the ultimate option. Unfortunately there may come a time in your life where unforeseen events may force you into declaring bankruptcy as a way to get your financial life back in order and regain your footing. Finding a bankruptcy attorney that unwhat’s available to read, (2) they are strongly predisposed to like or dislike a piece based on visual impressions, (3) they skim and scan, (4) they want to know the how and why of a document before they read the details and (5) they totally judge a technical writer by the content and writing quality.
When creating a thumbnail sketch of a reader for a document to be written by a technical writer, keep the above points in mind. But more importantly, do your homework on the specific audience that will be the end users of a technical document. Technical writing is by it’s very nature, is about conveying information. Technical writing involves telling the reader what they want to know. Technical writing answers questions like who, what, when, where, why and most importantly, how. The answer to a how question is the bread and butter of technical writing.
So when approaching a technical writing project, take the time to think about your reader. Keep that thought in mind as you write. When it’s time to review and edit, renew your vision of the reader. Maintain a mental picture of the reader in your mind while you edit. Eliminate everything that’s unnecessary. Write to their level, not above or below it. Writing to the wrong level, either too elementary or too haughty has caused many projects to flop miserably. Don’t do it. As much as possible, put yourself in their shoes. Be aware of what the reader needs to know about the particular topic and answer all of their questions with your writing. Write clearly and without fluff.
Knowing your reader isn’t magic. It doesn’t take a crystal ball. It just takes thought, a little research, and good judgment.
About the Author: Karen Cohen publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about technical writing at http://www.technicalwritingtoday.com.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright: Small Business Networking: An Overview
Small business networking is very important to success. You, the computer consultant, are entrenched in the professional services business, which revolves around relationships and thus networking with a large number of people.You need to make small business networking of the utmost importance when starting your business and take things slowly. You will not get a large number of clients, nor will you get clients that need you immediately whewriting answers questions like who, what, when, where, why and most importantly, how. The answer to a how question is the bread and butter of technical writing.
So when approaching a technical writing project, take the time to think about your reader. Keep that thought in mind as you write. When it’s time to review and edit, renew your vision of the reader. Maintain a mental picture of the reader in your mind while you edit. Eliminate everything that’s unnecessary. Write to their level, not above or below it. Writing to the wrong level, either too elementary or too haughty has caused many projects to flop miserably. Don’t do it. As much as possible, put yourself in their shoes. Be aware of what the reader needs to know about the particular topic and answer all of their questions with your writing. Write clearly and without fluff.
Knowing your reader isn’t magic. It doesn’t take a crystal ball. It just takes thought, a little research, and good judgment.
About the Author: Karen Cohen publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about technical writing at http://www.technicalwritingtoday.com.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright: Why Invest in New Zealand Apartment Now?
There is no doubt that every investment is about getting the good return in the future, just like planting an apple tree today and hopefully to enjoy fruit tomorrow. Some investments get excellent return while others get none or little. So choosing an investment which has great future return is every investor’s goal.New Zealand is a small country in the Australasia region. Current population is about 4.15 million. 1.24 million people live in of what the reader needs to know about the particular topic and answer all of their questions with your writing. Write clearly and without fluff.
Knowing your reader isn’t magic. It doesn’t take a crystal ball. It just takes thought, a little research, and good judgment.
About the Author: Karen Cohen publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about technical writing at http://www.technicalwritingtoday.com.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright: Technical Writing Today 2006
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