[Courses] [Careers] Carla the Country Geek

[Carla Schroder]

On Sunday 30 January 2005 4:20 pm, Mary wrote:
> On Sat, Jan 29, 2005, Carla Schroder wrote:
>> I 
> > wrote about computer-related health issues, such as repetitive strain 
> > injuries and chronic headaches. That evolved into a regular column "Happy 
> > Healthy Computering."
> > 
> > Which then evolved into a computer column, "Basic Computing" in 1997. 
> > Somewhere in there I discovered Red Hat Linux, and knew I had really found 
a 
> > home. Then that evolved into "Business Linux."
> 
> Do you think your writing has improved since you started writing
> professionally?
> 
> Is so, how did it improve? Through the work itself? Through extra
> non-professional writing?

Definitely it has improved, just from doing so much. I don't do a lot of 
writing for fun. I find there are three steps that help me get better:

1. reading a lot
2. following mail lists and forums, and tuning it to what people want to know
3. really knowing the subject before ever typing a word

As far as style and raw writing talent go, I'm pretty average. In technical 
writing I'm not trying to dazzle readers with literary brilliance and 
cleverness- I'm trying for clarity and helpfulness. So where I have improved 
the most is in organization and presentation. 

Reader comments help a lot too. Most folks are great and give thoughtful 
comments.

-- 
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Carla Schroder
http://www.tuxcomputing.com
check out my new book, the "Linux Cookbook", the ultimate Linux user's 
and sysadmin's guide! http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/linuxckbk/
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