<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Practical and Educational
Review: As the title mentions, Technical Writing 101, provides real-world planning tips. I found it to be very engaging, informative and very easy to read (finished within 24 hours of receiving it). It also sparked ideas on how I could look at a lot of projects I'm personally working on. The way the book is organized doesn't overload you with "too" much information. It also is very generous in providing other resources for further research and knowledge.
I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to get a good understanding of the technical writing process.
Rating:
Summary: Who are these people called Technical Writers?
Review: I had never even heard the term "Technical Writer" until I was hired as one in 1998. Previously I had been working as a software trainer and had become very dissatisfied with off the shelf training materials. Consequently I ended up writing all of my own material, as well as take-home job aids and reference books. These books were very well received and hence a love of writing began. After leaving the Government and moving to the USA, I no longer wanted to train but I wanted to continue writing since I had enjoyed it so much. I was later hired as a technical writer for a fortune 500 company in Oklahoma. A friend of mine back in Canada wanted to know what I was doing but I didn't know how to explain it in 20,000 words or less. Sarah rescued me by writing this book and I immediately ordered it. Not only is the material accurate; the book is funny, immensely readable and short enough to be absorbed by a non-techie within a few hours. I sent the book to my friend and she finally understands what I do (or rather USED to do!) Never, when I wrote "The WordPerfect 5.1 Reference Series" for the Canadian Government did I think I would be launching a satisfying lifetime career. Thank you Sarah and Alex for putting into words the details of what technical communication is all about, and how to go about much of it!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, real-world advice
Review: So many books on "technical writing" discuss project management that just doesn't happen in the real world. Often throughout my 15-year career as a technical communicator, I've encountered individuals with English or Journalism degrees who hadn't the first idea about what technical writing (really) involves. This book provides an excellent, realistic overview of the profession and its (very important) components -- aside from a degree -- and being a writer of sorts (fiction, for example) -- and the kind of aptitude and skill set it takes to do the job right (and love it).
Rating: 
Summary: Good for beginners
Review: The book is targeted at new technical writers and engineers (SMEs) who want to understand what technical writing is all about. It could also be used for preparing training courses on technical communication. Neat presentation, large font size and simple language make the book very easy to read. But a few spelling and grammatical errors tend to put you off. More so when it is supposed to be a book on writing! Try spotting these errors when you read the book. It could be good editorial practice. Not that you don't have enough of that already. True to its title, the book doesn't dwell too much on any of the wide range of topics it covers. But, a few sections stand out. Chapter 3, "Doc plans and outlines," and Chapter 13, "Single sourcing" are well researched and presented. The book also has a long list of references-web sites and mailing lists relevant to our profession. Even if you don't have time to read the entire book, don't miss the cartoons and illustrations-especially the one on the back cover.
<< 1 >>
| 
