How to become a qualified technical writer

Today, most homes have a microwave oven, VCR, computer, or a DVD player, just to name a few. All of these products come with instruction booklets to tell you how to use them. The people who write these instruction booklets are called technical writers. The term `technical` refers to knowledge that is not widespread, but that is the territory of experts and specialists.

A technical writer is someone who translates information about a technical product into easy to use materials, such as an instruction booklet, a user guide or on-line help. A good technical writer will present the information in a clear and concise format.

Xhad = The history of technical writers

The term technical writer is relatively new. Until 1980, most documentation was written by the experts who designed the products. Due to the fact that they were very familiar with the product, they assumed the reader knew what they were talking about and generally glossed over complex concepts leaving out pertinent information from the documents. The documentation tended to be disorganised, confusing or ambiguous. After 1980, the field of technical writing emerged because as technology became more complex, a need arose for someone who could understand technology and convey the information in a non-technical way.

Prospective technical writers must have the bare minimum of a four-year degree and one to two years technical writing experience or a technical writing qualification together with strong technical knowledge, good writing skills and good computer skills in order to secure a position as a technical writer.

Until now there were no educational programmes specifically designed for aspiring technical writers in SA or anywhere else on the African continent. It has taken five years to develop the introduction and diploma programmes and will assist aspiring or self-made technical writers gain the knowledge, grounding and a qualification in order to pursue a successful career as a technical writer anywhere in the world.

Analyse the needs of the target audience; study data and conduct in-depth interviews with subject matter experts to understand the product or procedure; index and cross-reference documents such as bulletins and manuals; produce or arrange for illustrations, charts and photographs to be included in publications; edit, standardise, or revise material prepared by other writers or personnel; prepare layout of material for publication; prepare rough drafts of the publication for review with the project staff and/or customers; and create and edit Web pages for the Internet, intranets and extranets.

Technical writers create product instructions, reference and maintenance manuals, articles, project proposals, training materials, technical reports, catalogues, brochures, online documentation and help systems, Web pages, multimedia presentations, parts lists, assembly instructions, and sales promotion materials. We compose communication from product developers for users of the products. Users include consumers as well as scientists, engineers, plant executives, line workers, and production managers. And we must write in a concise and easy-to-read manner for consumer publications or in highly specialised language for experts. With the increased use of desktop publishing, technical writers increasingly are responsible for the publication process including graphics, layout and document design.

Technical writers usually work in an office environment. Some companies hire technical writers as full-time staff while others bring in technical writers on a contract basis for certain projects. The demand for technical writers is usually greater in technology-based companies which are usually located in larger metropolitan areas. Because of their greater skill sets, experienced technical writers have more opportunities to freelance or contract out their services. In some cases, a technical writer may even be required to travel in order to meet with all the subject matter experts of a product.

Technical writers are paid well for the work they do and depending on their skills, knowledge, qualifications and years of experience, they can earn between R120 000 and R280 000 per year.

This field can be exciting because a technical writer is constantly on the leading edge of technology and the most current tools on the market are used. Products, standards and tools are constantly changing so a technical writer is constantly learning. A technical writer is usually the first person outside of the development team to view a new product and as the first end-user, a technical writer is in a position to suggest changes in the products appearance, function or even how the product may be marketed.

The work of a technical writer can be demanding, time-consuming, and they must have a quick learning curve. The technical writer must be dedicated, have good attention to detail and be able to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. The job can also be stressful on occasion if a work schedule is tight or if deadlines must be met. Technical writing requires a lot of creativity in order to capture and hold the reader`s attention because some material in a document can be quite boring to read. The work can also be mundane because documents may need to be re-worked several times until they are satisfactory. A technical writer work is constantly reviewed, edited or even scrapped, so a technical writer needs to be able to take criticism lightly.

The field of technical writing covers many areas, such as electronics, aircraft, computer manufacturing, software development, chemical and pharmaceuticals, technical publications, health, etc. Jobs can be found in almost any industry sector because of the ongoing need for user guides, instruction manuals and training materials. The field of technical writing has become popular worldwide. The increasing demand for technical writers should come as no surprise because over the last decade we have become dependent on software and technology at a personal and business level.

Whether you are looking to enhance your existing career or embark on a new one, FTI`s Technical Writing and Communication program`s cross-field content focuses on skills that can be applied to any technical writing position. These courses will benefit any person who needs to understand technical communication and the documentation process, or who is responsible for documenting information and producing documents. The Diploma in Technical Writing and Communication combines instructor-led seminars, group work and assignments built around comprehensive industry standards, enabling participants to practise the tools and techniques covered.

The Diploma in Technical Writing and Communication runs from 21 June till 1 October 2004 in Cape Town.