?
Who are technical writers? What do they do? Where do they do it? We will provide some answers below.
Do technical writers work for themselves or for others?
Tech writers can work for themselves or for others. Most tech writers work as full-time employees for companies. These can be small companies or large companies with all types of variations in between. Some writers prefer a small company where processes are less complex and with fewer product lines. Others prefer the challenges of working in a large company.
Then there are the tech writers who prefer to work as contract technical writers or as independents, mostly for financial reasons. These writers must always be looking for clients.
If they work as contract writers, they typically work through a third party broker (i.e., a contracting agency or shop) that finds work and then sub contracts writers to do the work. The fees these third party brokers charge can be a sizable portion of the billing rate. Herman Holtz in his book,?How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant, says that this portion is typically about 35% to 40%.
If they work as independents, they find their own work. They can work as W-2 employees of an umbrella agency that performs billing services and provides benefits that the writer can purchase. The fees that umbrella agencies charge for their services are much less than shops that search out contracting opportunities, typically about 5% to 7%. Independents can also work on 1099s as sole proprietors or they can form their own corporations. Each has different tax implications.
In addition to writing, what other skills are necessary?
- Interpersonal skills?- Tech writers are constantly looking for information. They need to be able to bug folks in a way that isn?t annoying; otherwise, their informational sources will dry up. Tact and patience are important skills to master.
- Limited public speaking?- Writers often attend meetings as representatives of the tech-writing group. They need to be comfortable speaking with people at different managerial levels.
- Facile grasp of complex processes?- Besides working with difficult technologies, there are many complex processes that writer have to master in order to perform their work. So it helps to be relatively quick on the uptake. Or take good notes!
- Organizational skills?- The typical tech writer works with a number of different projects and delivery dates. It?s important to be organized. Otherwise, it is too easy to become overwhelmed and lose track of issues. Writers tend to develop their own ways to organize their work. Some use the software that their company provides (e.g., Microsoft One Note or Excel). Others use their own favorite software (e.g., Evernote or Keynote). Still other use notebooks and pencils. It is important that you find something that works.
- Detail-orientated?- Paying attention to details helps. The life of a tech writer is one of paying attention to details. Whether it is the bracket that encloses a software expression or the missing comma that changes the meaning of a sentence, details are important. With all the activity that occurs doing the typical working day, paying attention to details is not always easy.
What are the most important qualities to be successful as a technical writer?
- Writing ability?- Writing ability is the first. As the term technical writer suggests, it refers to a writer. Tech writers don?t need to be the A students in their English class but they do have to have an understanding of writing. They also need the desire to make their writing better.
- An appreciation of time?- Tech writers must understand the importance of time. They have to appreciate what a deadline is because their documents need to be ready on schedule. Even if a task looks easy, it?s best to get it done ahead of time instead of waiting to the last minute.
- Consistency?- A consistent work effort is important. A tech writer cannot perform brilliantly on one project and then perform poorly on another. Writers must train themselves to do the boring parts of their job at the same level as those parts that really excite them.
- An ability to listen?- Often during an interview with a SME, the SME will emphasize something that she deems particularly important. If the writer ignores this, he risks losing this SME as an informational source. Often a writer will think she knows how to perform a certain task, and does not pay attention when her manager or another stakeholder draws a distinction. The result can be work that misses the intended goal.
- Understanding teamwork?- Tech writers must also be able to function as part of a team. That can sometimes be difficult. Why is that? I think it is because most tech writers think that they can do it all. And, in fact, they may have that capability. But it is important for writers to realize that several minds together can often come up with different and better ideas than one can by itself.
What are typical working conditions for technical writers?
The typical working conditions for tech writers are surprisingly similar. They typically work in a cube with a phone, a PC, a large work area for papers, and plenty of storage. Typically they reside near other tech writers or with engineering folks. Their work areas are mostly quiet.
They spend most of their days working at a PC, reading specifications, talking with co-workers or SMEs, and attending meetings. Some days can be exhilarating where the work is absorbing and time flies by. On other days, the work can be downright boring and time slows down.
What do technical writers dislike about their jobs?
- First in line for layoffs?- Tech writers are often at the top of the list for layoffs. Tech writers understand this unfortunate fact but do not like it at all!
- Boring or repetitious work?- There are times when a writer might spend hours, days, or even weeks doing mindless and repetitious work (e.g., reformatting documents, creating tables with similar information, or republishing minor changes to a document). While they do not like this type of work, most tech writers realize it must be done and do their best.
- Documentation is a necessary evil?- Some organizations view documentation as an afterthought, something that is required but provides no real value. Tech writers do not like working in companies like that. Unfortunately, many companies share this attitude.
- Anyone with the time can do technical writing?- Tech writers definitely do not like this attitude. Often engineers or SMEs have this attitude. It can present problems when these folks attempt to edit a section in a way that makes it incomprehensible.
- Wrong type of editing?- Tech writers do not like it when they send out a preliminary draft asking for comments on technical content but instead gets grammatical corrections.
- Having work rated?- Technical writers do not like to be rated. However, that often comes with the territory. Because documentation managers must often promote, perform annual reviews, and terminate writers, there is often a rating process.
- Micro-management?- Tech writers do not favor manager who micro-manage their work. That is acceptable managerial behavior for new writers or new member to a doc team, but for writers who have demonstrated that they can perform it is a turn-off.
What do tech writers like about their jobs?
- Good working conditions?- Tech writers often have their own cube or office at a high tech or manufacturing company. They have all the tools they need to perform their work. They typically work in quiet environments.
- Variety?- Tech writers have the opportunity to work with different products, projects, software, and types of documentation. Some writers like that. Others prefer to work in one technology or industry. Most technical writers can make horizontal moves into different industries with little problem.
- Learning opportunities?- This fits in with variety above. Tech writers have the chance to learn and work in many different areas and with different software. A writer might work several years using FrameMaker and then take a job where she uses Robo-Help. Typically, companies will provide focused training on their core technologies.
- Advancement possibilities?- Tech writers have the opportunity to move into management or into different areas at a company.
- Ability to help?- Many tech writers like the fact that users find their work helpful.
- Challenging work?- Tech writers like the fact that their work can be demanding and a challenge. That makes their work lives interesting and provides a sense of satisfaction.
What do tech writers write?
Tech writers write hardware or software manuals of varying degrees of complexity. They write instructions on how to install your cable TV box. They write the manuals in your car?s glove compartment. They write ISO processes that your entire company follows. They write all kinds of documents. These documents can be relatively easy to write or they can be very difficult.
What industries do tech writers work in?
Tech writers work almost everywhere. Here?s a short list:
What software do technical writers need to know?
Tech writers need to be able to use programs like the following:
- Microsoft products, Word, PowerPoint, Excel
Nowadays, with most companies being cost conscious, tech writers are also becoming familiar with Open Source programs.
Additionally, large companies will often have their own specialized software for specific purposes (e.g., doc bug reporting, publishing to the web).
In my view, knowing what you need to do is the important thing. If you know that, you can figure out how to do it with whatever software that you use.
What types of educational backgrounds do technical writers need?
There are all types of backgrounds. I?ve known people with degrees in History, Engineering, English, Business, and Teaching to name just a few who did well as technical writers. Nowadays, there is an emphasis on actual degrees in Technical Writing. Most of the technical writers I have known over the years had non-technical backgrounds. They were able to write and also able to understand and learn technology as they had to.
What are the different levels of technical writer expertise?
In general, there are junior or beginner technical writers, intermediate writers, and?senior writers. Most often this differentiation depends on innate skills, time served, and the types of projects that writers work on over time.
Source: http://protechwriting.com/?p=823
black friday walmart 2011 sams club dancing with the stars winner too short thanksgiving thanksgiving brining a turkey
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.