The secret of technical writing success?

[Pate, Mark]

If he loves science and writing, I'd steer him toward a science curriculum.
Once he has the science down, he can write about it as a (hopefully paid)
avocation if he is so moved. Many career scientists write/publish/teach --
but not many writers do biology/chemistry/physics "on the side."
 
-M

Mark Pate
Eng. Svcs., Sr. Technical Writer
3D Systems Corporation, Austin, TX
1909 W Braker Lane
Bldg E, Ste 200
Austin, TX 78758
voice:  512-339-8305
fax:    512-973-9092
email:  patem at 3dsystems.com

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  _____  

From: Karen Kay [mailto:karen.kay at gmail.com] 
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? 

Karen
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