|
|
|
|
By Jackie Damrau, 2nd VP
Welcome, Scott Lucado, to the Lone Star Chapter. After much arm-twisting and cajoling, a cadre of past and present officers convinced Scott of the merits of joining STC. Before Scott joined STC, he has served our Chapter by presenting at the October 18, 2002 Winter Workshop and the October 22, 2002 Newcomers SIG meeting. He has an upcoming speaking engagement in February with the Ft. Worth Satellite group.
Scott has held positions as a technical writer and trainer. He is also a published author and currently working on his next book. Here is a brief glimpse into the life of Scott Lucado and why he feels that STC is important.
What inspired you to join STC and the Lone Star Chapter?
I've really enjoyed the STC meetings that I've attended; I've learned a lot from all the different people I've come across. Also, it's an opportunity for me to exchange my knowledge and experience with others.
What benefits are you expecting to gain from your membership?
There are several, but to focus on my own Big Picture, I personally believe that technical communicators are the most overlooked strategic resource in corporations. I am looking for ways to help my fellow STC members realize this and be able to promote themselves and their abilities to their organizations.
As a technical communicator, what skills and experience do you feel are a necessity to have in our toolkit?
Aside from the obvious technical abilities of writing well and being able to transfer knowledge (which really can't be overemphasized), I think a good technical communicator is curious, diplomatic, flexible, and has a strong business focus. The fact that so many of us come from such widely varied backgrounds illustrates how many different functions intersect in technical communication—marketing, training, documentation, planning, and analysis, to name just a few.
Do you write strictly technical material or do you dabble as a creative writer?
I guess I do my share of dabbling in creative material. I belong to a writers' club, the Trinity Writers' Workshop, which is very helpful. I seem to have more ideas than I have discipline to get them all written down, though. Right now, I'm working on a book about—surprise!—interorganizational communication as a competitive advantage. In fact, I'm looking for good examples to include in the book; if you've got one, send it to me (ScottLucado@aol.com).
Have you published any articles in periodicals? Written your own book?
I have a few publications of technical materials, but my latest achievement (and the one I'm most proud of) is the publication of my first novel, "Never Too Busy For You." Readers have responded very positively to it, which is very gratifying.
What books are you currently reading? Would you recommend them for purchase? What inspired you to read these particular books?
Oh, good question. I'm a fast reader, and I love to read, so I've always got several reading projects underway. I've recently discovered the science fiction writer John Barnes; I just finished his novel, "Earth Made of Glass." Also, I traded novels with Kelly Snider, a local writer, so I'm reading her book, "Final Portrait." I'm also struggling through William Sterne Randall's "Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor"; I'm a history buff, but the problem with most written histories is that the subject matter is more interesting than the writers can convey. Of the books I'm reading, I think the best is Kelly Snider's; it's a dark story, but full of emotion.
If you could pick one interesting facet from your experience as a technical communicator, what would that be?
I think it would have to be that technical communicators are at the center of so much corporate activity—collectively, we probably know more about our companies' operations than any other single group.
If you were on a desert island, which book would you want to be stranded with?
That's easy. "War and Peace." I've read it nine times so far, and I imagine I'll read it again before too much longer.
Can you provide one word that describes your LSC experience?
Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.
What words of advice would you have for prospective members?
The more you put into the STC, the more you'll get out of it. (This is true of most things in life, I think.)