The secret of technical writing success?

[Mary Connor]

I have to agree with you and would advise him to get the science undergrad, minor in writing. Just seems SO much easier to establish the technical chops up front. My husband and I both are aware of how not getting the technical degree first makes going after the advanced degrees we want _now_ harder or wildly impractical.

Buy him a copy of the musical "Avenue Q", which opens with "What do you do with a B.A. in English?"

Still, the coming demographic crisis (boomer retirement) should lower his anxiety about employment; should be ample work for the articulate and nimble-minded. Following his passions, he should do fine.  :-)

Best, Mary Connor

________________________________

From: bounce-stc-austin-general-123172 at lists.stc.org [mailto:bounce-stc-austin-general-123172 at lists.stc.org] On Behalf Of Karen Kay
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 9:07 PM
To: STC Austin Discussion List
Subject: [stc-austin-general] The secret of technical writing success?


I got a phone call from my sister today. Her son is 17 and looking at colleges and majors and so on, and the other day, he said to a friend of his that he wished he could find something to do that where he could combine his interest in science with writing. My brother-in-law, bless his heart, said to talk to Aunt Karen.

I'm not sure what to tell him. I feel very strongly that what you major in doesn't determine what you do with your life--heck, I was an undergraduate double major in French and German, then did graduate degrees in linguistics and the history of Japanese language. And now I'm writing about computer chips! All the writers I know well came to technical writing indirectly. I don't know anyone who decided to be a technical writer in high school and who directed their education in the path.

To complicate matters, one of the difficulties my nephew is facing is that he is enormously talented in almost every area. I know that sounds like auntly bragging, but in this case, it's true. He could be an actor, a musician, a math weenie, a newspaper editor... Or a technical writer.

So.... What kind of education would you recommend? My suggestion was a technical education in whatever area he decides on. What do you think? What would you tell someone who is 17 and thinking about choosing your profession?