Reading #4: Ch. 15

Chapter 15 focused on giving a more real world view of what the technical writing landscape actually looks like by introducing a young professional about to embark on her first project at her new technical writing job. What followed was a series of different questions and the various answers that the author's received from the professional writers that they asked. The idea that regardless of the specialization that you find yourself in, I found it interesting, and reassuring, that having a strong background in writing is essential, and most of the rest tends to follow. The chapter also addressed the ever changing nature of the profession very well, better than any of the other chapters we've read so far in my opinion, by providing many rapid fire examples of research and opinions. I'm starting to think that, based on the way that these authors are referring to "tech" writers, that none of them actually exist. Whether they are someone's imagined work force, or some other such strange thing, it is strange how these  people are written about. Questions, rules, and maxims are all layed out in painstakingly explicit detail. These people are so thoroughly characterized that it feels like the authors are more concerned with molding their ideal tech writer, than offering practical help to those going into the field. For example, all of the questions that are provided for all of the situations that one might find around them are all basically restating the same thing:  you need to be able to multitask, work well with others, learn quickly, and not be afraid of rapid change. It's like there's some giant elephant in the corner of the room that no one wants to or is willing to address. Is this due to the ever changing nature? Are these people afraid of making a statement that is invalidated by a technical shift minutes later?