The theme of the latest monthly newsletter of my professional society, Intercom, is "Writing and Web 2.0." I'm all excited to read this, especially given this blog.
*splat*
This is my nose running into the big fat wall of disappointment that is this issue. Maybe it's a failing of print media, or that the monthly mag is not directed at the 10-year professional. Maybe technical writers are largely unispired writers in general (I don't believe that, mostly). The first article promised discussion of how the writing process has changed with web 2.0, and then it degenerated, typically, into a discussion of tools. Next article is interesting but it's about taking the FOSS approach to managing your writing toolset, not really about writing at all.
One ray of hope, the podcasting article, written largely to explain basic podcasting concepts (not the hopeful part). The writers are advocating the use of podcasting to capture technical writing expertise, which I like, and they have created a site of podcasts by tech communciators for us. Now this is something I can spend some time exploring.
"Writing and Web 2.0" largely falls short of what their topic can actually provide--ideas from people who really know something, are doing something, or are thinking about things in interesting ways. Talk about the writing and web 2.0.
Monday, January 22, 2007
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3 comments:
Oh my, I can totally see your disappointment. I can imagine, from your standpoint, how Web 2.0 and consumer as author is totally going to change how technical writers communicate. Perhaps to the people who wrote that issue, Web 2.0 is new and scary, and they were just you know - dipping their toes in. I know at the "big company where I used to work" they thought that by sending out promotional emails they were "fully engaging in internet marketing." Everyone evolves at a different pace. Sighs.
Maven,
Thanks for your comments on my podcasting article and for linking to Tech Writer Voices. I did a podcast on Web 2.0 as it applies to help documentation at http://techwritervoices.com/2007/01/03/help-20-the-convergence-of-web-20-with-help-documentation/. Near the end I posit some ways Web 2.0 applies to help (more than tools).
I'm always excited to discover a new blog on technical writing, so I'll keep my eye on your upcoming posts.
Tom, your podcast has a lot of great ideas for how to incorporate web 2.0 behaviors/features into traditional help.
Xtine, that is one of the tricky parts about Intercom. It has to speak to a broad audience. I can also see where if I were in a different job, I might not be exposed to blogs and wikis and creating community, so I might need some more basics.
Blogs are a huge bonus for experienced tech writers whose traditional publications have been focused on beginners or academics, and where all the traditional barriers restrict the number and focus of the participants.
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