Technical Writing


Definition of Technical Communications

 

The Society for Technical Communication defines technical communicators as those who “research and create information about technical processes or products directed to targeted audiences through various forms of media.”  Even in industries where the final product or service is not very technical in nature (business, marketing, social work), technical communications activities make up a surprisingly large portion of work from entry level positions, to the highest positions in organizations.

 

Technical communications is an increasingly collaborative profession, as specialists from disciplines work together with designers, engineers, analysts, project management, quality control, sales, logistics, and customer support to ensure that accurate and relevant information is communicated at each stage of a product lifecycle, research program, or project development. Media used to deliver technical communications include websites, books, brochures and other printed materials, social media, meetings and live presentations, e-books, video, and audio.

 

Because technical communications activities are key throughout many strategic and operational areas of an organization, planning and executing a wide range of technical communications strategies becomes increasingly important. Tech-com strategies can be defined as the coordination and integration of all technical communication processes, tools, functions, and sources within an organization to convey information and knowledge.

 

All Writing is Technical to Some Extent

 

 

    1. Will often involve what we call “technology”
    2.  And is a technology in itself

 

Technical Writers think through some Familiar Concepts, Conventions and Techniques

 

 In English 1020, you learned about the theory

    1. Discourse community
    2. Argumentation / Rhetoric
    3. Genre
    4. Context

    1.  Letters
    2.  Memos
    3. Reports
    4. Instructions
    5. Tone, content, reader-centricity
    6. Above all, remember that composition, technical or otherwise, is a RECEPTIVE ACT.  For any composition job, your first task is to LISTEN to your advisers and your audience:
      1. Who is your reader?
      2. What do they need to know?
      3.  How are they going to get it?
      4. When are they receiving your documentation?
      5. Where are they in relation to you?
      6. Why are they consulting your documentation?
    7.  When you can answer all those questions, you are well on your way to making good technical documentation...

 

But what’s in it for you?

    1.  Marketability!
      1. Employers want employees who can write – “communication” is the most often cited problem employers have with their personnel.
    2.  Independence!
      1. Don’t want to work for someone else?  You’ll need good communication skills to write business plans and proposals:  “gimme a loan to start a company, dude,” ain’t gonna cut it!
    3. Satisfaction!
      1. Tech-Writing is fun – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.