A Technical Writer with Extra Privileges? Responding to a Question about Roles

A reader writes, "I was doing some career research involving technical writing and stumbled upon your website. I had a question about that sort of thing, and you seem like a good person to ask.

"To be frank, I have two main interests--writing and technology. I love to read and write, but I also love engineering, working with computers, etc. So, I guess at this point, one would say technical writing is the logical career choice. Yeah ... but I'm not sure if that would satisfy my tech cravings. I realize you've mentioned things along this line in your previous posts. But let me explain a little further ....

"Let's say I get schooling in engineering and, say, English. Would I be able to be a technical writer who also had some extra privileges? And by that I mean helping with the design process, helping with whatever problem is trying to be solved or whatever item is trying to be created, etc. What do you think?"

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• technical writing
• roles
• technical communication
• problem solving
• value

[Muzicismylife2]

Very informative video, thanks for going into thoughtful details. I'm mid-career, and have decided that I don't want to do banking anymore. Want to become a technical writer, since I have almost all the basic skills & talents I think a technical writer should have - problem solving, ability to simplify & explain things clearly, comfortable with changing technology, listening skills, communication, BUT a degree in Psychology & a Masters in Marketing Management. Any ideas how to go about it? Thx

[emailinee]

Technical Writing is an interesting career if you work for a successful IT product companies such as IBM, SUN, MS, DELL, HP, Intel, Oracle....where your growth and learning will phenomenal. Technical Writing is a kind of software engineering.

Every word on the internet is part of Technical Writing.....

[Icylillies]

Hello,

I too am searching for careers to look into and technical writing happens to be one of them. I also like to read and write and while writing manuals does not sound all that glamorous, I wouldn't mind writing manuals for programs that I like using, for example iMovie or instructions on how to play a game. Plus, I like to design things. So, my question is, do you have to like math and engineering in order to be a successful technical writer? Sadly, those two subjects are not my forte.

[Milomaine]

From my perspective as a tech writer of 18 years experience, I enjoyed your video. You provide great and valid advice. Especially valid is your advice that a tech writer nt try to be a designer or developer. Roles on a software development team are usually very well defended! Yes, it is ciritical that a tech writer insert himself/herself early into the software development lifecycle process as an advisor to business analysts, designers, developers, and all the other team members.

[paperbacknovel]

Great video. Finding a good technical writer is one of the most difficult jobs to fill, and they are integral to the success of a product -- it is someone who really wants to communicate how to use things to users, and can dig through the technical 'puzzle's, as you put it so well. Good tech writers are the first ones to point out what's wrong with a product back to Development -- you don't know it until you try to explain it to someone. They are the glue before product goes out the door.