Do You have what it Takes to Be a Technical Writer?
Posted by Beth Hrusch on Fri, Jul 16, 2010
The idea of doing technical writing puts some writers off. They think “I’m not a technical person”, or “I can’t translate tech-speak”. It seems intimidating to some, but the fact is that technical writing can be a lucrative side business for writers. Many have made it their primary offering. So, do you have what it takes to be a successful technical writer? What does it entail?
Here are some of the things that may be required of you if you choose to be a technical writer. If you think you can handle these requirements, if they suit your skill sets, interests, abilities and schedule, then technical writing just might work for you.
1. Write well- You must have an excellent knowledge of the content and the structure of the English language (or the language that you will be working in) to include the spelling and meaning of words, grammar and the rules of composition. This is not something you can fake your way through.
2. Collaborate- You may have to conduct interviews of production personnel, read notes and journals and study other resources in order to become familiar with the production methods and the technologies used. You may have to collaborate with vendors, publishers, customer representatives or company executives in order to develop material for publication, including setting technical standards.
3. Organize- A technical writer may have to organize materials, edit, make changes to or standardize someone else’s material. You may be required to maintain the files and records of all of your work and revisions.
4. Analyze- You may have to review already published materials and make recommendations for changes in content, scope and format, or even in the methods of distribution. You may need to analyze previous documents and study the current technical aspects in order to determine if revisions to the existing material are necessary.
5. Interpret- Another skill that comes in handy is some knowledge of computers and electronics, toys, education and training, or communications and the media. A technical writer writes on technical issues, sometimes for technical professionals and at other times for the “end user” who may not be technically savvy in any way. You need to be knowledgeable enough to interpret the specifications you are given and to write them in the specified format. A lot of this knowledge can also come from past jobs or experiences.
Work experience can make up for a lack of formal technical writing training, especially if you have a varied work background that has given you a broad base of knowledge. Some skills are universal to all fields and if you have them, your chances of finding employment increase dramatically. So it is with technical writing:
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thinking – using logic and reason to find solutions
- Listening skills- being able to give your attention to the presentation of information so that you can understand the concepts
- Communication skills – the ability to take complex concepts and make them comprehensible to anyone
- Time management
- Deductive reasoning- the ability to produce answers that make sense when applying general rules to specific problems.
Do you think you could be a technical writer? Are there experiences in your past (work-related or otherwise) from which you could draw expertise and experience? It is a specific skill, but it can be honed over time, and it can be financially rewarding, so don’t rule it out as a career-expanding option.