Technical writing: My proud career
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: September 3, 2009
Flexing my fingers, just thinking that it has been an awfully long time that I have written sumthin. The topic today isn’t a result of sudden realization of how I am in a profession, not widely known, but yet quite an attractive and lucrative option. I was in a rick today, sharing it with an elderly uncle, and the question popped. What do u do beta (daughter – elder people address young girls like that in India)?
I dread this question and why so, I dread it cause if its not like you are software developer.
If you are a software developer, no one wants to delve further after hearing software, that what exactly that mean. But, technical writing, is whole new story altogether. Now, this is wat happened,
Uncle- What do you do beta
Me – (hmmm….should i tell him)? I work for xyz company…(this will buy me some time)
Uncle – as what?
Me – (dammit…I wanted more time) Well…(here goes nothing) I work as an Information developer
Uncle – (zonked…maybe she codes)so u are in software
Me – (the technical writer pride strikes again…I have to explain my identity) No…I write..i do technical writing
Uncle – (?…yes that was his expression) oh ok (not a convincing yes)
Me – I do technical writing….I write user manuals, install guide, development guide, so on
Uncle – as in?
Me – (lets get downright simple)Uncle…when you buy any syrup based medicine…a small pamphlet that comes with instructions..
Uncle – so u write that??
Me – (let me complete) No…i write sumthin like that….
Uncle – I don’t get it
Me – (thank u god I need to get off this rick)Uncle…basically I write (and the conversation ends)
So, moral of the story is that I am proud of my career choice and I am very happy to tell people that I am in this career by choice and not chance. Have you faced any such situation where the same question was asked to you by some non technical person and you had a hard time explaining, then please share 
Paneer methi
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 26, 2008
- In: Food
- 2 Comments
I cooked again. The inspiration to cook this weird combination was my brother. Like any other human being, he despises bitter food. He does not like leafy vegetables, unless it is in the form of palak paneer. I want him to have methi because of its nutritive value.
Methi is a very beautiful vegetable. I love the methi theplas that my gujrati friends used to get. Now, my brother likes paneer and so I though the only way to make him eat methi was to mix paneer with methi.
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Simple egg cake recipe
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 22, 2008
- In: Food
- 2 Comments
I have time at hand and how else to spend it then watching a movie or cooking. I am not an expert at baking but somehow I find it really exciting. That is the reason I am looking all over the net, especially googling cake recipes. I have to make a correction there since I don’t Google for cake recipes but I add “Simple” to it.
After much of an effort I finally found a really nice and easy recipe here. I had got all the ingredients many days back. Now, the warrior had set her foot in the kitchen. I even bought a heart-shaped mould so that it has mercy and my first cake comes out great.
The recipe is really great and yes I will be giving it here. I set out with a lot of vigor but was really soon bogged down when I sieved the flour and the sugar together, when I was supposed to sieve the flour and the baking powder together. I was really nervous about the way the cake would turn out.
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First user experience with Camtasia 6
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 22, 2008
I managed to download the trial version of Camtasia 6 and what will follow is the first hand experience of using it. Since I have never used Camtasia before, this wil be fun. I will try to put in as much required detail in this post and if need be, write another one.
The reasons I am using Camtasia is to understand this thing called screen video capturing. I have used snagit but only the screen capture part of it. I want to know what more does Camtasia offer in comparison with Snagit.
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New Tools for Writers
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 18, 2008
I have been a technical writer for the past 2 years and a very loyal one. I am adding the adjective loyal since I have been an Epic user for all these times. I am not an expert with Microsoft word but I manage. XML-based editors were the most talked of tools in the past. With the new age where users want content but the one which is media rich, XML-based editors do not allow that flexibility.
Any average reader has the interest rate of 3-5 mins. If you are not able to get the readers attention, promising him that this will get better as you read, you have lost your potential reader. As a user, when I am visiting blogs, too much of text (content) deviates my attention to other things on the page.
I feel people like multimedia rich content. With the advent of new tools in the writing market, we have an array of products that let you, even with the slightest knowledge of any imaging software, create content that is actually beautiful and makes sense.
I am listing a few tools, some which I have used and some that due to shortage of funds, I am yet to use. I am though trying to download the trial versions. I hate trial versions, because once you start getting the hang of the tool, the trial period is over. This in no way means that I am a slow learner.
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Places/Monuments in India I want to visit before I am 45
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 17, 2008
- In: General
- 3 Comments
I have always wanted to travel. There might hardly be anyone who wouldn’t enjoy traveling. As a child, my parents were not rich enough to promise me a holiday to a different place every year. Consistency is something they believed in. Since my I am a Malwani, I belong to Goa. Typically, that is the place we used to go to every year.
It’s not that I am bored of Goa, but I have seen enough of Goa. I have certain places in my mind that I have listed down in my book that I want to visit before I turn 45. The places are small and big, but equally beautiful and scenic. The list can be never ending but maybe I can start it and then go on revising it.
First recipe – Chicken Pickle
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 16, 2008
- In: Food
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Today I was in a mood to cook and I wanted something spicy, chicken, and garlicky. Incorrect grammar I know and I apologize. I sometimes get this strong urge to cook up something nice and I don’t know by luck, they do turn out good and yummy. I made chicken pickle the other day I had this feeling. It was a simple recipe my friend gave me (as in his mother cooks it), I loved it so I made it. I am sure you guys will love it too. I like it extra spic, but variations are always welcome.
So here comes the recipe –
How do I deal with work pressure?
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 16, 2008
Today when the work is relatively less, I was thinking of the times couple of months back when the pressures were too much to handle. Work is never too much, it is our mind which gets boggled to see work coming at towards it at lightning speed. I have had days when I feel I have too much work and days when I feel totally lost.
Just couple of days back I was under a very strict deadline and work thrown at me from all directions. I was coding in my editor, clarifying doubts from developers, sorting out my reviews, incorporating my review comments, and producing innumerable PDFs. All this at the same time. I was going crazy and really snapping at everyone on my way.
Experience vs. Skills
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 16, 2008
How does one judge if a writer is good or not. I guess judging this in writing is much easier than in any other field.
I am new to the field of technical writing, relatively new. I would be wrong if I say that I am extremely good at writing. I have a cumulative experience of 2 years working as a Technical writer. How does a country produce good writers, isn’t it by encouraging the seasoned writers to give these writers a chance?
Mouse surprise
Posted by: rendezvouswitme on: December 16, 2008
Necessity is the father of invention. This saying is absolutely true and who knows might be the reason that the world of computer mouse is becoming extinct. I still remember when my first computer was bought home. It was quite a celebration with all the pooja and all to welcome the new member of our family.
But the only thing that intrigued me was this small handy thing with just 3 buttons. Much to my amazement, it made me wonder how the whole world of a keyboard could be shattered and controlled. I loved it the moment I set my eyes on it. To cut this nostalgia short, today’s world has replaced the much adored gadget with touch screens.
I am not quite a fan of the touch pad on laptops and still bank on my mouse for navigation ease. I thought of strolling to the gadget store for a USB mouse, and was surprised to such limited options. I could see a large variety in Web cameras but the mouse was still black, still huge, and still boring.
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