More About the Creative Tech Thing...

Sorry folks, I can't get this stuff out of my brain.  I'm exploding with ideas. 

Cathy Resmer from Seven Days quoted me on her blog yesterday regarding the Creative/Tech Career Jam and our evolving definition of what "smart" means.

Here's a great example.  I'm working on a freelance tech writing project today.  It's electrical engineering techie, the style of writing required is quite rigid, dry and quite frankly, I don't have a clue what any of the terminology means.  I feel like an idiot.  Can I do the job?  Yup!  First reason: I know how to write.  I've been doing it forever.  I like it.  It's one of those basic skills, that no matter how high-tech our world becomes, good communicators will always be in demand because computers can't replace them.  Second reason: I've learned how to ask questions.  Yep, I have no clue about what most electrical engineering terms mean.  However, I have Google, Wikipedia, and a mind that asks, "Hey, how does part A connect to part B and how to they work together to run this thing I'm writing about?"   It's just a thing.  They're just words. I can figure it out. 

Is it scary?  Yep.  I feel like a moron sometimes asking the same questions over and over until I get a tough technical concept enough so I can spew it out in prose that my readers understand.  Is it hard?  Yep (but there's nothing like conquering a hard concept to make you feel good about yourself).  Do I want to be an electrical engineer?  No freakin' way!  Blech!   

My advice to any kid entering college would be:

• Learn how to write.  On paper with a pen.  Do it a lot.  Do it well.  Find a mentor who will "bloody" up your pages with red ink edits and then do it again until you get it right.  Read the Chicago Manual of Style.  Read other books about writing and then write some more.      
• Learn how to research.  Not just on Google, but in the library.  Not just in the library, but think of all the people you know who might know something about the topic you're interested in.  Learn how to interview. Find out what people you admire are passionate about and then ask them questions.  Watch their faces light up as they reveal what makes them happy. It's fun.  It's contagious. Just listen to me and the marketing and copywriting chick argue about serial commas or pontificate about what we think are silly words to see what I mean.      
• Last but not least, get to a point technically where you can say, "Huh...I don't much about XYZ software, but hey, it's just software.  I'm going to play with it till I figure it out.  I'm going to subscribe to a forum, I'm going to ask questions over and over, and by golly, I'm going to conquer this silly thing, because after all, it's just a thing.  And by golly, I've got a brain that allows me to figure things out."
• Lather, rinse, and repeat.

Now that's smart advice and I'm sure Cathy R. would agree.  Interestingly, I learned this as a little kid, long before computers.  My mom, who does not have bachelor's degree taught me, at the kitchen table.   She helped me learn how to research, she lead me through algebra (kicking and screaming, I might add), by looking at what I was doing and trying to do it herself, she gave me spelling and writing feedback on everything I did.  She was not afraid to edit the hell out of my work.  I guess what I'm saying is that this stuff, even the high tech stuff, starts at a very human level - with a desire to interact, build relationship, ask for feedback, and improve. 

I'm convinced that's what today's employers, especially those at the creative tech jam, need more than anything.   

Thanks, Mom.  :-) 

Comments

[Michael at Eddiesenergy.com]

Interesting point. It's a good thing I am the opinion editor of our school newspaper, and write two weekly columns. Looks like I'm headed in the right direction in college.

[Chris]

Ann! I just visited Chocolate and Zucchini.
What a great find! Thank you.
Please blog soon - I love reading your Annisims :0