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susandennisI'm no dummy. I know how to read. I know how to write. I can follow instructions and directions. BUT, I'm a world class skimmer and lately that's been a problem.
Yesterday I spent the morning in quality time with my graphics program (Paint Shop Pro 8) and two different 'how to' books. It was not easy. I couldn't find the buttons they were referencing and the options they were suggesting and couldn't work the examples they gave me. It was a bitch. What I discovered was that every detail was right there but I was not reading them correctly. I was skimming along and missing the critical bits and pieces.
If I backed up, and read every single word and did the steps one at a time, it totally worked. I was astounded at how much I learned when I went slowly and carefully.
Today I was writing out instructions on how to get to a particular folder on our network when I was suddenly very aware that I was including way way too much detail - documentation backlash. And, all of a sudden, I felt real shame in the way I treated those instructions yesterday.
All of this answers the question I'm often asked "are you a technical writer?" - NO! I'm not even good enough to play one on TV.
Yesterday I spent the morning in quality time with my graphics program (Paint Shop Pro 8) and two different 'how to' books. It was not easy. I couldn't find the buttons they were referencing and the options they were suggesting and couldn't work the examples they gave me. It was a bitch. What I discovered was that every detail was right there but I was not reading them correctly. I was skimming along and missing the critical bits and pieces.
If I backed up, and read every single word and did the steps one at a time, it totally worked. I was astounded at how much I learned when I went slowly and carefully.
Today I was writing out instructions on how to get to a particular folder on our network when I was suddenly very aware that I was including way way too much detail - documentation backlash. And, all of a sudden, I felt real shame in the way I treated those instructions yesterday.
All of this answers the question I'm often asked "are you a technical writer?" - NO! I'm not even good enough to play one on TV.