I'm a technical writer. I used to write product documentation (online help, more specifically) for two our of products. Then we hired two new writers to take over. I was doing that on my own for the longest time. I was really thankful and relieved that I could move away from doing that stuff. (It was repetitive and I wasn't learning much more after the second year.)

Not too long ago, I had my computer rebuilt, and did not install most of the tools that I used to use. I was loving a fresh, new start.

So now...we have this new writer. He is falling behind and he needs help. The other writer has her own work to do on top of this stuff. So they are asking me to help out.

I used to put in so much overtime prior to a release to get all my work done. These people are not willing to put in as many hours. That's fine because they're not obligated to. However, these two people replaced *me*. If I could do it all before, why can't the two of them tackle this? The work is even less! I had nobody to help me. 

Just because I have the knowledge and ability to help them, I really don't want extra work that cuts into my own deliverables. I'll gladly put in overtime for my deliverables because they're my responsibility, but to put in extra hours because other people don't want to? I don't know.

There is no incentive for me to do work that I used to do and where there are more resources now. If I help them once, I don't want them thinking they can draw on me for future releases. (I'll have forgotten a lot by then! I tend to forget things I don't feel I need to know.)

How do I decline this work when I said I would help? Should I say something to my manager? He's all about open communication, but it'd only be fair for me to say something to the other two writers first. I'm not tattling on them; I just want some ideas for the best use of the time that we do have.