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UnTechnical Writing: How to Write about Technical Subjects and Products So Anyone Can Understand Michael Bremer. 1999. Concord, CA: UnTechnical Press. [ISBN 0-96699490-6. 232 pages, including index. $14.95 USD (softcover).]
Although UnTechnical writing is aimed at the writer, primarily of software user manuals, anyone who must write about technology or science for the layperson will learn something from the book. I have written about science for more than 20 years and found that the book activated my "ah ha!" reflex at least every five pages. Michael Bremer is an entertaining writer who explains old concepts in original ways. His explanations and suggestions are fun without being condescending or pedantic. The processes he presents are based on what he's found to work in practice.
Bremer might be less successful with his discussions of philosophy. He uses the term UnTechnical writing, he says, because of the "scary" reputation of the commonly used technical writing. It's probably not necessary to coin a new term when the term technical communication is available, but he wants to stress that writing about technical topics should be friendly. His is a contrived but catchy term.
Although Bremer lists many sorts of writers for whom he's written the book, it will probably benefit the inexperienced writer most. He provides lists of preferred skills, the writer's roles, your duties as a writer, questions to ask when you read technical writing, and checklists. He gives valuable advice and helpful tips throughout the book, such as his suggestion to "gather a library of good and bad samples" and the tip to "cull down your prose to what's important" (pp. 33-34). STC members have heard that for years from such mentors as Don Bush. Bremer's tips on working electronically include some gems.
For the seasoned...