If you’re a professional writer, chances are you’ve already stumbled across technical writing. And chances are, you’ve thought about becoming one.
It’s a coveted skill that is always in demand and pays well. But because of its use of complex information, it’s also a harder niche to get into. You’ll have to learn a lot of things and pass many challenges before you make it as a technical writer.
What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing is any writing about technical information. It falls under the broad umbrella of technical communication which is defined by the Society for Technical Communication as:
- communicating about topics that are highly technical or have a very specialized focus.
- communication is done through technology such as websites and social media.
- providing instructions about technical content to a clear audience regardless of the level of technicality or whether technology is used to create and communicate those instructions.
Many people think of technical writing as only taking place in STEM fields such as computer science, engineering, medical science, biotechnology, and so on. But technical writing takes place in any industry where a lot of complex information is being simplified and communicated.
Technical writing has no universal style guide. The format, voice, style, tone, and level of technicality will depend on what a business requires and its intended audience. However, common characteristics include simplicity, conciseness, objectiveness, and focus on the audience.
Goals of Technical Writing
Technical writing boils down to putting technical information into language that a specific audience can easily understand. There must be no ambiguity so that all individuals interpret the information the same way.
This type of writing is commonly used to define processes, discuss findings from research, explain the purpose and use of a tool/machine, and analyze trends. Technical writers take all of these and distill them into crystal clear documents.
These documents take many shapes and forms. The majority of technical writing is used by businesses and organizations to explain internal procedures, define policies, issue guidelines, instruct employees, publish findings, and communicate with other businesses.
General consumers ingest technically written documents in the form of instruction manuals, product catalogs, warning labels, white papers, FAQs, wiki pages, how-to videos, knowledge-based articles, and more.
What Technical Writing Is Not
Content that doesn’t provide technical information in a simplified manner to a specific audience is not considered technical writing, such as:
- promotional materials
- travelogues
- product descriptions
- review articles
- self-help
Technical writing has niche audiences while non-technical writing usually has wider targets. And if you compare the two, technical writing often dives deeper into its subject matter than its counterpart.
How to Be a Technical Writer
Technical writing is a difficult niche to establish yourself in. If you’re interested in becoming one, these are some essential skills you will need:
1. Technical Expertise
It’s almost a requirement for a technical writer to be a subject matter expert. A lot of technical writing jobs require certification or a degree in a specialized field.
However, some jobs do accept writers who can be taught, are willing to take courses and certification, or have relevant experience in the subject or something adjacent. Businesses also look for writers with digital skills (graphic design, data analytics, media literacy, etc) because of the growing relevance of digital documentation.
You might not be the best in the field but you must understand enough of the subject to explain it simply to others. This includes being able to grasp technical details quickly and correctly.
A broad knowledge base is also advantageous, however shallow. This allows you to utilize a wide range of information to add to your writing and put it in a better context.
2. Research Skills
The first step to technical writing is collecting the data which you’ll simplify into easily digestible information. This data can come from multiple sources including publications, interviews with experts, and internal data.
Knowing what you don’t know is integral to this process. Spotting the holes in your research will save you time in document creation.
3. Collaboration
A technical document isn’t the work of only one person. You’ll likely collaborate with multiple individuals of different roles. Excellent verbal and nonverbal communication skills are integral to creating an accurate technical document.
4. Proofreading and Editing Skills
A technical document with errors will quickly prove troublesome, and sometimes, even dangerous. For example, if safety manuals for equipment contain incorrect information, it will eventually lead to injuries and legal problems.
Technical writers need to ensure that a technical document is accurate and understandable. They must not only look for grammatical and style errors but also technical inaccuracies.
5. Audience Perception
From research to writing, a technical document has to be built around its target audience. This is especially crucial when delivering technical content to non-technical people.
Keeping the audience in mind will help determine the tone, style, depth of information, and level of jargon you will use in creating a document.
Knowledge management is also important. This means establishing a good flow of information (creating indexes, linking similar information groups) and matching your audience’s level of expertise.
How does Technical Writing Help People Find Answers?
Imagine if you, a layperson, had to make sense of a manual full of unfamiliar and complicated words. It defeats the purpose of the document.
Technical writing simplifies the complex. It breaks down highly technical content into digestible bits that any reader, regardless of expertise, can understand.
Good technical writers can create documents that become easy, yet still credible sources of information that become reliable references for anyone. Well-written technical documents save people time and effort when it comes to understanding a lot of processes that could make different aspects of life difficult.
Have you ever done any technical writing? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
