A technical writer is someone who takes a bunch of technical jargon, and makes sense of it. These people write user manuals and technical how-to guides the average Joe can follow. It does take some skill and preparation, but a technical writer can make a terrific income. If you want the freedom to work from
home, or if you simply like writing, the technical field could be a terrific avenue to follow. This article will help you get started making income as a technical writer.
Join the STC (Society for Technical Communication). This is a professional organization for technical writers, employers, and businesses. Anyone interested in technical writing should join this organization. It allows you to communicate and network with fellow writers and people looking for technical writing work. In fact, some employers only post technical writer jobs in their local STC chapters.
- Call your local community college or university and sign up for a technical writer class. Most colleges have classes designed for technical writing, but if you don't have one in your area, there are plenty of online classes available.
- Create a sample book that showcases you as a technical writer. The book doesn't have to be very technical in nature. It just has to show that you can form logical step by step instructions, format the book correctly in Microsoft Word or FrameMaker, and understand how to convert it to a PDF file.
- Create a CV (Curriculum Vitae). This is similar to a resume and showcases your writing and technical writing skills. If you have little to no technical writing experience, be sure to include writing experience that has nothing to do with technical work. To be a technical writer, you have to start from somewhere.
- Search Dice.com for jobs. It is one of the largest job databases for a technical writer. There are, however, several other job databases you should search, but this is a great place to start.
A technical writer is someone who takes a bunch of technical jargon, and makes sense of it. These people write user manuals and technical how-to guides the average Joe can follow. It does take some skill and preparation, but a technical writer can make a terrific income. If you want the freedom to work from home, or if you simply like writing, the technical field could be a terrific avenue to follow. This article will help you get started making income as a technical writer.