A Few, Frivolous Thoughts

by Opal Gamble, President

Someone asked me the other day what, specifically, a Chapter President does, and what I liked best and least about the role.

I replied with a brief, tech writer styled, neatly bulleted list that outlined things. My correspondent replied saying, "but you forgot X, Y, Z, and your monthly Quill article!"

Whoops (notice I didn't say it was a complete list...)

Writing this monthly article for the Quill is one of my duties as President. Sometimes it's a pleasant duty, but often I struggle. Why? Well, because I am supposed to pass on important information from head office, or from our council meetings. Let's face it: that's a dry read.

I know you're all just scooting by on your way to go read Nancy's article (you wouldn't believe how many people tell me that's the first thing, and occasionally only thing, they read in the Quill).

So, since I have no great news of importance to intone from on top of my soapbox this month—okay, fine, I'm short: my stack of soapboxes—I'm going to expound on some tech writer thoughts that have floated through my brain in the last month.

Sitting in the dark

When I get to my cubical early in the morning, I usually turn on the little florescent light under my over-desk storage unit and leave the main lights in our area off. I've noticed over the years that most technical writers I've worked with have similar habits.

Oddly, we all have an expression of disgust and dismay when some cheerful soul sings "Good mooooorning!" and flips on every light in the office.

Is it a common trait for tech writers to like the glow of a monitor with a little accent lighting?

Pants, pants, pants

In a completely unscientific study, I have discovered that technical writers, in general, have a lousy time finding pants that fit.

They might be too big, they might be too small.
Maybe too short, maybe too tall.
But when it really comes down to it,
writers are challenged by a trip to the mall.

(No, I'm not giving up my day job to become a poet.)

How many writers does it take to change a light bulb?

By my estimation, five.

• One to plan the project
• One to write
• One to review
• One to do a usability test
• One to actually change the light bulb

That said, it will only be one writer that actually does this task, because having five writers available for a project is unheard of!

About Opal Gamble

Technical writer, web monkey, and general geek, Opal's wanted to be a tech writer since high school; she became a STC-SOC council member in 1997. A graduate of UW's co-op Rhetoric and Professional Writing program, Opal is a contract Technical Writer at Campana. She also runs her own freelance business, SiO2.

When she's not doing STC business, Opal participates in autocross events (with a hybrid car, no less!) and tries to cultivate a green thumb in her garden.