Five Things Aspiring Technical Writers Must Do

Anyone desiring to work as a technical writer should take the following five steps, reflect on the steps taken (to see if those steps reflect a true image of the writer), and repeat:

1. Write technically by finding a technical topic you know and producing something that educates the rest of us.  This will involve applying your writing skills in several venues, including:
• Writing articles for an organization that centers on technical communication (refer to #2 on this list)
• Writing procedures for open source programs or non-profit organizations that need documentation
2. Network locally at your local chapter of at least one of the following groups:
• American Medical Writers Association - A great resource for writers working for medical device companies, pharmaceuticals, or similar entities
• Association of Proposal Management Professionals - A place to learn about writing an exciting proposal under tough deadlines
• International Association of Business Communicators - The best resource for organizational writers, public relations writers, and other business writers
• IEEE Professional Communication Society - A resource for writers addressing electronics or software
• Society for Technical Communication - The largest group of technical writers (including a number of special interest groups)
3. Commit yourself to continual learning (of software, of technical writing techniques, and of the technologies we document).  This may involve:
• Accessing online help sites of popular software packages
• Reviewing the current topics in technical writing circles by reading:
• I'd Rather Be Writing - A blog produced by a technical writer
• ffeathers - Another blog written by a technical writer
• STC's Notebook blog - One of many resources available from the STC
• TechComm Today - Another resource from the STC
• One of the many other blogs on technical writing
• Taking classes or doing online research of the techology used by your new employer.  Since I have worked at NASA, a few oil exploration companies, and some computer companies, this has involved a wide range of learning.
4. Network online in addition to your local efforts.  Join LinkedIn groups that are organized around technical communication.  Create a profile for yourself on Monster, Dice, and CareerBuilder.  Make yourself known to the local headhunters.
5. Be visible -- Make certain that your newest writing is available online.  If the chapter of your professional society (refer back to #2) is not online, post it yourself.