| Technical writing translate, organize, and | | | | Work Conditions |
| present complex information in the form of | | | | |
| user guides so that any person can easily | | | | • Working as a Single Technical Writer |
| understand and use that information. | | | | in a Department |
| Depending on the needs of the audience and | | | | |
| the product, the type and form of the | | | | In this case, one is responsible for entire |
| document that is produced varies. | | | | documentation projects from the planning |
| | | | stage through delivery. It is the technical |
| Technical writing has wide applications in | | | | writer's duty to evaluate products and |
| diverse fields: computers, medicine, | | | | analyze customer requirements. In addition to |
| manufacturing, finance, telecom, aviation, | | | | writing, he/she designs templates for books |
| robotics, consumer electronics, and | | | | in the documentation suite and ensures |
| biotechnology, among others. It would be a | | | | documents' testing before their deliveries. |
| mistake to believe that technical writing is | | | | He/she also advises the design team on the |
| only about written words and illustrations; | | | | usability of the products. |
| today, in fact, many other avenues have | | | | |
| opened up for technical writers to write for | | | | • Working as Part of a Writing Team |
| multimedia companies, online help systems, | | | | |
| and websites. | | | | Writing teams may be comprised of as few as |
| | | | two writers or as many as two hundred |
| Depending on their work profiles, | | | | writers. Inexperienced technical writers get |
| professionals in technical writing hold | | | | more opportunities to work in large teams |
| titles such as technical writer, usability | | | | than in small teams. The advantage of working |
| specialist, documentation manager, technical | | | | in larger teams is that they use |
| editor, information developer, technical | | | | tried-and-tested project policies and |
| illustrator, and web designer. | | | | procedures. The disadvantage is that |
| | | | initially, experienced writers on the team |
| Features of Technical Writing | | | | closely monitor new recruits' work and often |
| | | | direct them to rewrite documents more than |
| As with any form of writing, technical | | | | once. |
| communication is meaningless if it fails to | | | | |
| translate and convey technical ideas in | | | | Newly appointed technical writers start out |
| messages audiences can understand. Just as in | | | | using desktop publishing software, |
| other forms of writing, a technical writer's | | | | interviewing subject-matter experts (SMEs), |
| failure to analyze the needs of his or her | | | | researching glossary terms, and organizing |
| audiences and the objectives of particular | | | | information. With experience, they are |
| documents can defeat the purpose of technical | | | | assigned to difficult documents and are |
| writing. In spite of this and other | | | | allowed to design simple and/or complex |
| similarities, though, technical writing | | | | templates. |
| differs from other writing in some aspects: | | | | |
| | | | • Working as a Freelance Technical |
| • Technical writing is highly | | | | Writer |
| structured. | | | | |
| | | | Freelancers have to complete assigned tasks |
| • Formal language is used. | | | | within specified periods. Payments are based |
| | | | on negotiated hourly rates or flat rates. |
| • Sentences are usually shorter, and | | | | Rates are never static and depend largely on |
| messages are easier to infer. | | | | writers' experiences, abilities, and market |
| | | | conditions. Renewal of contracts is |
| • Depending on the audience, documents | | | | unpredictable and depends on many factors |
| sometimes extensively include sketches, | | | | ranging from performance to personal rapport |
| tables, charts, and diagrams. | | | | and the market. |
| | | | |
| • Documents maintain balances between | | | | The continuing expansion of scientific and |
| theories and their applications. | | | | technical information and the need to |
| | | | communicate it to many audiences will |
| • Writers work closely with designers | | | | increase job opportunities for technical |
| and illustrators. | | | | writers. The field of technical writing is |
| | | | open to not only professional communicators |
| • Documents intended for the general | | | | but also to the technical workforce. Many |
| public place greater emphasis on "layman's | | | | computers programmers, lab technicians, |
| language" than documents meant for the | | | | research scientists, and engineers also do |
| technically skilled. | | | | quite well in the field. |
| | | | |