Vicki Brown










Setting Expectations

I can't write what I don't know. That doesn't mean I can't help, but we'll have to work together closely and you will need to take some time to turn your thoughts into words.

How you get those words to me is your decision - you can scribble them down on paper or email; we can have a meeting where you talk and I take notes; you can write the first draft. You should expect me to come back to you for clarification or more information as the process moves along.

In simple terms, this means you're not off the hook. I'll do any wordsmithing and formatting. I'll turn your text into web pages. I'll organize everything and make it presentable. However you still have to do the planning (and you have to work with me).

I Work For You

This is an important point. From my viewpoint, I don't work for your manager, your team lead, or a committee. When we work together, I work for you.

This means that you own the documents we produce together. The end result is yours. I may make trivial changes (e.g., minor wordsmithing, punctuation, typo fixing) without your involvement.

However, major rephrasing, addressing incongruities, responding to bug reports, or responding to requests from third parties should go through you. I will take my direction from you (but reserve the right to protest).

You'll thank me later. :-)