![]() The audience will also have their own expectations and needs. It is important to know if your audience holds expertise in the field, if the topic is totally new to them, or if they fall somewhere in between. In order to know who you are writing for, you have to gather as much information as possible about who will use the document. A good technical writer revises the text based on the reader's context. The only thing that changes is how those facts are conveyed. Generally, the technical information does not change. The target audience is always at the forefront of the technical writer's mind. Through thoughtful questions, you can pull out this information so the project is clear and well-planned from the start.Īfter the initial project planning with the client, the biggest writing factor is the audience. Sometimes, your client might not even be sure of their own requirements! A guided conversation about the document is invaluable to ensure that you as the author understand the project. Not all of these important aspects may be clearly defined at first. (For ease of reading, the person who requested the document will be referred to simply as the client in this guide.) With the request, the initial requirements are defined: document type, subject area/content, goal, scope, and audience. This step may be initiated by an employer, colleague, or client. The project planning process begins when the technical document is requested. Use the following technical writing process to best develop your documents. If you start writing and then try to edit your way into a usable technical document, you will only cause yourself headaches. The review phase is essential to ensure your document is technically accurate and audience-accessible.īefore you start to type one word, there are crucial preparation steps that will define your document. The planning phase sets you up for success and makes your writing time more effective. It may surprise you to discover that the technical writing process can take just as much (or more!) time to plan and review than to write. Technical writers work in software development, consulting, academia, government, broadcasting, transportation, energy, telecommunications, health, security, publishing, and the list could go on. In the information age, being able to provide clear instructions or information for the intended audience is more important than ever in a variety of industries. Technical writing isn't limited to these domains. There are many professions that require strong technical writing, such as financial services, manufacturing, energy, consulting, medical business, and engineering. Employment growth in this field will exceed the national average for other occupations due to the continued increase in scientific and technical products. A broad understanding will ensure that the text is accurate and communicates the necessary data most efficiently.Īccording to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for technical writers is projected to grow ten percent from 2014 to 2024. While the reader does not need to know all the details, you need to have a depth of knowledge to select just the crucial elements to include. ![]() Therefore, with each new technical document, you will become an expert on that subject. ![]() In order to communicate the content, you must be (or become) well-versed in that field. Technical writers have the great benefit of becoming lifelong learners. Due to the high-tech nature of workplaces and day-to-day life, technical writing is increasingly common. The technical content will explain the scientific or specialized details and guide the reader in how to use that information. Technical writing is used anytime a technical subject must be conveyed by text. The text should present the information in the most professional and accessible way possible. Technical documentation has a clear, direct, and neutral style. Our practicum technical writing course has been taken by high-level technical writers at Shell, Boeing, DuPont, and more. Learn technical writing with our online self-paced course.
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