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Genetics Encyclopedia:

Technical Writer

A technical writer (sometimes called a technical communicator) designs, writes, edits, and produces documents for scientific, technical, industrial, and government organizations. These documents can include technical reports, specifications, reference manuals, operating instructions, policies and procedures, proposals, presentations, brochures, and Web pages.

Goals and Skills Required

The main aim of a technical writer is to communicate scientific and technical information to other people using easily understandable language. To be a technical writer, a person needs strong language skills, demonstrated by college-level training. A college degree in English, journalism, or communication is preferred, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The person also should also have some familiarity with scientific or technical topics. Finally, the person should have experience using word processing and desktop publishing software, graphics programs, and Web publishing tools.

Specially trained people began to be employed as technical writers in the late 1930s. Prior to the 1980s, however, most technical documents still were written by scientists, engineers, and other specialists, many of whom found it difficult to write for nontechnical audiences. With the rapid expansion of science and technology, however, the need increased for people who could both understand complex ideas and convey them effectively to a variety of audiences.

Challenges, Advantages, and Drawbacks

Some challenges need to be considered when thinking about a career as a technical writer. For example, a person may have to invest considerable time and money to acquire the knowledge and skills needed. Also, it can be difficult to gain entry-level experience. Technical writing is typically a sedentary profession that does not involve travel. At the same time, it is a demanding profession that can take time and energy away from other, more creative writing pursuits. Working for a company with an established set of document guidelines can be frustrating, and the profession is sometimes criticized for being dry and unimaginative.

Generally, however, the outlook for technical writers is bright. Technical writing is a job growth area: More jobs are being created than are being filled, particularly in the high technology industry. Once employed, a technical writer works on a wide variety of projects, many of which represent the cutting edge of science and technology. The field is supportive of female professionals; more than half of all technical writers are women. While a majority of technical writers are between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four, about 20 percent are over fifty-five years.

Entering the Profession

In addition, technical writing is a profession that pays well. According to a 2000 salary survey by the Society for Technical Communication, the average salary for a technical writer in the United States. is about $52,000. An entry-level technical writer makes about $37,000, which compares favorably with entry-level positions in other fields. The average salary for a senior-level technical writer with supervisory responsibilities is about $65,000. Salary level also depends on geographic location, level of education, and years of experience in the technical writing field. People interested in seeking employment as technical writers should pursue volunteer and internship opportunities, develop a portfolio of their work to show potential employers, check classified advertisements and company Web sites for job openings, write directly to personnel departments, and/or sign up with a job placement agency that specializes in information technology.

Bibliography

Society for Technical Communication. "Salary Survey 2000." Supplement to intercom 47, no. 8 (2000).

Internet Resources

Conroy, Gary. "Technical What?" Technical Writing 1997. http://www.techwriting.about.com.

Kolunovsky, Nina. "Becoming a Technical Writer in Three Easy Steps." Society for Technical Communication 1996. http://www.stctoronto.org.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Writers and Editors, Including Technical Writers." Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000. http://stats.bls.gov/oco.

—Cindy T. Christen

 
 
Wikipedia: technical writer

Technical writers are professional writers who design, create, maintain and update many types of technical documentation, online help, user guides, white papers, design specifications, and other documents. Sometimes, a field engineer may need to be a technical writer, as well.

Their given field can be almost anything that requires specialized knowledge and information. (See technical writing.) Examples include the mechanical, electrical, or medical fields, but many technical writers work in the computer/information technology area.

A technical writer's primary responsibility is to effectively communicate a technical message. Technical writers are responsible for creating documentation that is accurate and complete, but as concise as possible, and easy for the intended readership to understand. Some technical writers also communicate in other modes (e.g., writing scripts for industrial film or video).

Qualifications

Technical writers normally possess a mix of technical and language abilities, and have degrees or certifications in areas such as Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Technical Communcations, Journalism, Communications, English (or the applicable language), and Management. The writer should have enough expertise to understand the document's intended readers.

A good technical writer has the ability to assimilate and convey technical material in a concise, effective manner. It is more difficult to find technical writers with command of technical areas, so those writers are generally in higher demand. For example, writers who develop documentation for development software APIs, microcontroller operations, and other technical subjects often have better prospects than those who write user guides for a less technical audience (for example, "How to use email"). Writers with experience in multiple technical areas have an even greater advantage.

Technical writers are known in the United Kingdom and some other countries as technical authors or Knowledge Authors. Technical writers may also be known by other names such as Technical Communicators and Technical Documentation Specialists. It is not uncommon for people in related fields to "double up" as technical writers, as technical writing is often a considerable part of their job -- e.g., "information designer", "information developer", and "information architect".

Methodology

Before writing any document, it is essential that a technical writer gather as much information as possible on the topic and also the purpose of the document or assignment and the intended audience. Sometimes, previously written documents will provide information that the technical writer can use to frame the given work. A technical writer should be adept at tackling topics that are unfamiliar and analyzing the information in order to create a coherent document.

Technical writers work closely with technicians, engineers, developers, managers, and occasionally customers, to ensure that the delivered product meets all requirements. Technical writers work the closest with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).

Well-formed technical documents follow common publishing guidelines. Technical documentation comes in all styles and formats, depending on the medium used to convey the information. Printed documentation has different standards than online documentation. Usually, technical writers follow the formatting conventions described in a standard style guide; the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications and the Chicago Manual of Style are two well-known examples.

Instructional or how-to documents are written in the present tense using the second person. Use of the passive voice is avoided by Technical writers.

Environment

Technical writers often work as part of a writing team. In most cases, after the documentation is written, it's reviewed for content accuracy and completeness by one or more "Subject Matter Experts" (SMEs), at a minimum. Others, such as users or managers, may review it to ensure it suffices from a more practical or high-level perspective (such as review of administrative errors and organizational problems). Finally, it should be edited for spelling and reviewed for correct and proper grammar and usage (generally by a native speaker of the language of the document).

See also

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Genetics Encyclopedia. Genetics. Copyright © 2003 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
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