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April 1st, 2009 | Posted in Technical Writing 19 Comments »
I know that my site’s title “I’d Rather Be Writing” has always struck the wrong chord with those passionate about the technical-writer-to-technical-communicator name change movement. Those familiar with the profession and the semantics around the job title know how limiting and frustrating it can be to see project managers and developers pigeonhole you into a “writing” role when your skills actually extend far beyond this and include multimedia, graphic design, usability, information architecture, project management, and other abilities.
To break this stereotype and to move beyond the “technical-writers-only-write” assumption, I’ve decided to change my blog title to “I’d Rather Be Technical Communicating.” I will grant that the grammar is not spot on, but that’s not really the point. By adopting a daring title, it calls attention to the phrase and makes readers reevaluate and reassess their previous assumptions about the critical role that technical writers communicators play.
As an added incentive to gain traction for the movement, I’ve contracted with CafePress to make T-shirts available with the new site title for the upcoming STC Conference in Atlanta. If you’re interested in a T-shirt, add your name in the comment section below the post and I’ll let you know as soon as they’re available.
Cafepress T-shirts with new site title/logo
Note: This was an April Fools day post.
Tom, as a loyal, faithful reader who has reaped much insight and pleasure from your site, I’ll be honest. I think the title change is ill-advised.
Part of the old title’s charm to me was the ambiguity: Precisely because we embrace and excel at all the other tasks as a TC, sometimes we would simply rather be writing than managing projects, etc. And the strength of your blog is precisely the breadth it covers. I MAY rather be writing, but thanks to your blog I can stay on top of all the other developments…
And I have to say, I DO mind the “ungrammar”…
Kai, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your insight into the charm of my original (and real) title. You’re right — despite the other tasks I embrace, from context-sensitive help to interface text to video tutorial, sometimes I really would just rather be writing. Not technical writing either, but more narrative, literary writing.
Oops, it IS April Fool’s Day after all. Silly me…
Thank goodness this isn’t real!
Yeah, just changed my site title back to normal again. Phew.
Tom, thanks for being so kind as to find value in a comment that took a prank (and itself) too seriously…
Just read this in my feed reader, thinking, “Good Lord, I hope he’s kidding.” Whew!
Tom,
Name change or not, I’d be interested in getting one of those T-shirts!
Any chance you may get them made due to reader demand?
Good April fools, glad its only a joke or there would be trouble
The old title seemed more appealing to me. It is rather casual than the new one.
I quite like the new one, it has more personality and is still pretty informal.
I appreciate your insight into the charm of my original title. You’re right — despite the other tasks I embrace, from context-sensitive help to interface text to video tutorial, sometimes I really would just rather be writing. Not technical writing either, but more narrative, literary writing.
I think people still don’t realise that it was a April fools, but the “new” name is good and thought provoking.
Your blog is amazing, i first landed to another post but then get interested and thought, i will just look a little more arround to see what else i can find out about such stuff
Your blog is amazing, i first landed to another post but then get interested and thought, i will just look a little more arround to see what else i can find out about such stuff
Personally using outlook with a boat full of rules seems to keep most of my email problems in order.
yes id rather be technical communicating! haha
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Great and useful post, thanks for sharing.