... 1. Introduction
Technical writing requires clarity of expression and therefore simplicity of language. Technical
writing is intent on expressing certain key concepts ... programmers or users. Writing in a clear, concise
manner makes not only understanding the text easier for the reader, it also makes your life as a
writer of technical documentation easier — especially ... of
‘being in it together’. Classical technicalwriting is very much bound and impersonal style in
general. This nowadays is no longer true. But still, technicalwriting is not a ‘family thing’!
5.9...
... TechnicalWriting 1
What is technical writing? Need for technical writers.
Sharing your knowledge. Making a name for yourself.
Job titles. Areas of specialization. Disastrous effects of
bad technical ... you'll need. Differences between
technical writing and technical editing. Courses in
technical writing. Applying to university programs.
In-company training. Society for Technical
Communication. Additional ... effects of
bad technical writing. Examples of good technical
writing. Where to find jobs. Qualities necessary for
success. Problems faced by technical writers.
2. Training for Technical Writers 23
Background...
... designer
Junior technical writer
Knowledge analyst
Lead technical writer
Senior technical writer
Software technical writer
Technical communicator
Technical editor
Technical intern
The Field of TechnicalWriting ... doubt about what the
writing means or implies.
Any writing that requires familiarity with (or willingness to learn
about) a technical field would be considered technical writing.
Writing about museum ... specializations and the type of writing that tech-
nical writers do in various areas will be covered in greater depth in
Chapter 4.
Disastrous Effects of Bad TechnicalWriting
Technical writing should never...
... gen-
erating manual content, technical writing, graphics, and layout.
The position provides support to the Engineering Department.
Requirements: A diploma in technical writing, CAD/CAM
technology, ... have to work in a variety of writ-
20 Opportunities in TechnicalWriting Careers
Position: Technical Writer
Job type: Permanent
Company: Technical publications firm
Location: Midwest
Duties: Preparing ... other
technical writers to learn about parts installation and operations.
Requirements: A high school diploma, in addition to voca-
tional, career, or related technical studies in technical writing...
... management
Training programs
Publicity:
Writing technical articles
Placing technical articles
Preparing brochures
Preparing newsletters
Academic:
Teaching technical writing
Teaching media instruction
Teaching ... that technical writ-
ers will need more and more formal education as time goes on. In
discussing technicalwriting education, some general principles
apply.
Differences Between Technical
Writing ... is
essential.
Training for Technical Writers 25
of many fine technicalwriting courses and four-year programs into
a number of colleges and universities.
In addition to technicalwriting courses, a considerable...
... International TechnicalWriting Competition is sponsored
by the Phoenix Chapter of STC. It is an opportunity for college
students to be recognized for outstanding writing in technical com-
Training for Technical ... been
a technical writer. Some companies take a less formal approach by
bringing in outside consultants. These consultants are likely to be
teachers of technical writing, report writing, and technical ... multimedia.
Training for Technical Writers 35
The four areas of concentration in this department are corpo-
rate communication, multimedia production, technical media, and
technical writing and editing....
... program in technical writing, or you may design
one yourself with a technicalwriting career in mind.
• You might also consider the various journalism programs avail-
able that have options in technical ... important technicalwriting jobs.
But don’t depend entirely on the college placement office. There
are many excellent teachers working in technical communications.
If your school has a technicalwriting ... take all available writing and
composition courses. Although courses in creative writing are fine
for some forms of professional writing, it is important that your
Training for Technical Writers...
... times, especially since you are applying
for a writing position. A sloppy presentation or poor writing will
not convince employers that you’re the technical writer they are
seeking.
Be sure to ... the Society for Technical Communication, the
median annual salary for entry-level technical writers was $42,500
in 2004. The median annual salary for midlevel nonsupervisory
technical writers ... review. In the
56 Opportunities in TechnicalWriting Careers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that during the same
period, median annual earnings for salaried technical writers were
$53,490....
... newspapers;
professional and trade journal writing and editing; technical and
industrial publicity work; science writing for radio and television;
and freelance technical writing.
This increase reflects ... information.
66 Opportunities in TechnicalWriting Careers
• Publicity
• Technical literature
• Merchandising aids
• Power Point presentations
As a writer of technical advertising, you may be ... lay and technical levels. Advertisers also
have realized the potential in the technical advertising field, which
makes the technical writer almost indispensable. The same thing is
true of technical...
... technicalwriting is suggested by Matt Young
in The Technical Writer’s Handbook. In his preface he states: “It
would be very easy to show how technical or report writing differed
from other writing. ... dissemination of scientific and technical
74 Opportunities in TechnicalWriting Careers
Audiovisual Scriptwriting
You might not realize that technical writers can work in scriptwrit-
ing, but they ... also
Duties of the Technical Writer 75
Technical reports represent a very large part of an organization’s
publication output. They also represent a great amount of the time
devoted by many technical writers...
... pho-
tographed action.
Technical Translation
When most of us think of technical writing, we probably think of
writing in English for an American audience about American tech-
nology, or perhaps writing in ... Opportunities in TechnicalWriting Careers
employees and present another area in which the trained technical
communicator can find stimulating employment. Scriptwriters do
most of the technicalwriting ... have experience or train-
ing in technicalwriting as well as in engineering and science.
To show the widespread opportunities in technical and profes-
sional writing, here is a sample job description...
... useful classroom topics, such as types of technical
writing courses, designing objectives for technicalwriting courses,
110 Opportunities in TechnicalWriting Careers
An example of a consulting ... of Technical Writers 109
Another group, the Technical Information Office, is responsible for
the preparation of technical papers for publication in journals, for
answering inquiries of a technical ... to take basic technical writing. This alone has
increased the enrollment in the course by some four hundred stu-
dents a year.
We mention this to indicate that colleges teaching technical writ-
ing...