- 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
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
A technical communication blog by a technical communicator and emerging scholar.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
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:
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