As with any other exciting and productive industry, the technical writing industry comes equipped with many companies, schools, and associations offering a wide array of technical writing classes. I highly recommend you invest in a solid, quality technical writing class. While you may be smart and a great writer, effective technical writing is its own unique process and needs to be studied and learned. There are many tips, advice, and techniques you can learn from a technical writing course that will turn you into a much better technical writer.
Higher Education. Certainly the most favorable sources for technical writing learning are colleges and universities. There are many reputable institutions of higher learning that offer technical writer instruction--usually this is through a module of classes or workshops in the English or Business Departments. Obviously the more reputable the college or university, the more reputable and valuable your technical writer classes will be. Investigate the colleges and universities nearest you to find out the availability and cost of their technical writing courses.
Online Courses. There are also countless online classes and workshops for technical writers. These classes offer anything from advanced technical writing training to more beginning writing instruction. Be careful, though--some of these are low-grade courses, designed mainly to take your money. Make sure you research the different tech writing classes and determine the quality of their training and their reputation in the technical writing industry.
Class Certification. Your technical writing class will inevitably supply a certification to you. The value of this certificate in the technical writing industry will depend solely on that class's quality and reputation. Make sure you choose wisely. Investigate the class materials, read testimonials, go to tech writing industry experts to find out their suggestions on good tech writing classes.
Some of the best "classes" you can take are books. I highly recommend these 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.
Many technical writer classes and workshops can be found online here:
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