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by Angie Gardi
"'To judge or not to judge,' that is the question." This very question is what I asked myself when the STC competition manager, Karen Steele, announced that volunteers were needed for the 2001–2002 STC Competitions. I decided to judge, though I felt that my limited experience in the technical writing field scarcely qualified me for the role. After all, what did I, an amateur writer, know about constructing technical documents? Not much, so I thought. What was the deciding factor, you ask? Thirst for knowledge, is what made me decide to volunteer. Countless times I've wondered how other technical writers organize technical information and how their documentations look. Participating as a judge was the perfect opportunity to find out.
It was an eye-awakening experience as I began critiquing the entries. I realized that I was just as qualified as any technical writer in analyzing technical documents. On judging day as I sat with the other two judges on my team and compared notes, I was astounded to find that many of my comments matched their comments. This further reassured me that I was qualified and that I had fulfilled my duty as a judge.
The invaluable knowledge and insight I gained through this experience is immeasurable. I learned that there are a variety of ways to convey technical jargon without confusing the end-user. I learned what judges look for in winning entries. This is important to know if I ever decide to enter my work in a future competition. Best of all, I had more fun than I had anticipated. Judging day provided me with the opportunity to network with other technical writers. The most memorable moment of that day was Beth Bailey's amusing presentation of the document she believed deserved the "Best of Show" award. Principally, Beth's optimistic mentor style is a learning tool for novice writers. There is never a time that I failed to learn something innovative about Beth. She skillfully adds humor to anything that might otherwise be boring. No! She is not paying me to say this.
For those of you who are venturing out into this profession, I can't stress enough the positive impact judging will have on your technical writing career. And for the veteran writers who have a wealth of knowledge to share, imagine how gratifying it is when you make a difference in your contemporaries' writings! With all the rewards one can reap from this experience, how can you say no? I could not. I shall definitely participate again in any future STC competitions.