Technical writing is the translation and organization of complex products and services information into documents that any person can easily understand and use. A technical writer will create the documents for the products and services we use, such as user guides, documentation during the development phase, and training manuals. Technical writers need to possess a delicate balance of both technical smarts and writing smarts.
You don't have to be a great writer to be a great technical writer. Tech writers just need to be good writers who can break down a complicated topic into simpler terms. It takes an organized and methodical mind to be an effective tech writer. Technical writing is certainly a trade you can learn. There are many courses, classes, websites, and associations that offer tips and instruction on becoming a great tech writer.
A technical writer may work for a technical writing company, or in any general company as their staff technical writer, or as a freelance technical writer. A good tech writer can generally make $20-$60 per hour. There are many companies that specialize in technical writing; they handle the technical writing needs of companies desiring to outsource their tech writing.
One of the premier organizations for technical writers is the Society for Technical Communication (STC), found at www.stc.org. The STC has around 20,000 members and is dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. It helps technical writers network, get jobs, get published, and find instruction.
Another organization is the BITE Division of the National Writers Union (NWU), found at www.nwu.org//bite/bitehome.htm. This division is for writers in business, instructional, technical and electronic media.
I highly recommend a few excellent books and guides on technical writing:
Technical Writing: Process and Product. This book guides users through the entire technical writing process-prewriting, writing, and rewriting-developing an easy-to-use, step-by-step technique for creating the types of technical documents they will encounter on the job.
The Handbook of Technical Writing, Seventh Edition. This is an accessible and easy-to-use technical writing guide, with entries on research, documenting sources, brochures, formal reports, newsletters, proposals, sales letters, presentations, and visuals. Also includes in-depth treatment of grammar, usage, and the writing skills.
Elements of Technical Writing. This essential guidebook covers the fundamentals of writing for technical professions. The short, easy-to-use book outlines the major principles of technical writing and is filled with examples from real situations, as well as tips on writing reports and user manuals.
The Internet has great directories of technical writing companies, services, and instructional courses:
- Google's directory for Business Technical Writing
- Google's directory of Tech Writing Resources
- Yahoo's directory for Technical Writing
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