Comments on: Reader Question — How Do I Get Training in Technical Writing?

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:19:48 +0000

If I were you I’d focus on learning to write for the Web. Technical writer jobs are facing hard competition from out-of-work journalist as well as outsourcing to India. I’d re-brand yourself as a Web Writer/Editor and look for jobs developing content with an eye towards becoming a Web content strategist.

Best of luck!
Richard
Technical Writer Jobs

By: Avi Solomon

Avi Solomon — Sun, 24 May 2009 17:38:55 +0000

I recommend carefully going through Bob Horn’s excellent InfoMap seminar – It is the best introduction to Technical Writing I know of:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/15570852/Technical-Writing-Fundamentals-InfoMap-Manual-for-Developing-HighPerformance-Documentation

By: Neticule

Neticule — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:24:12 +0000

Great post! I am curious what a good place to find intern spots would be?

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:12:26 +0000

good post.

I have taken a university class in Technical writing, continuing studies courses in web writing, grammer, style etc.. done volunteer work as an newsletter editor and as an assistant at a non-profit magazine, I have an e-portfolio of writing samples, worked on communications teams, & done team writing. Most job ads qualifications cite a university degree in english or communications (or comp sci/engineering). I do have a university degree in social sciences as well as a continuing studies certificate in web development & multimedia.

but my question is: how important are the actual credentials?

I seem to be getting screened out because I don’t have the particular degree or traditional job title (I’m a library assistant).

By: Bettina

Bettina — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:38:53 +0000

Hi, technical writers are also often tasked with technical illustration jobs. So if you are looking for any information around technical illustrations and some free tutorials, I can recommend to go to the PTC website and watch some of our free illustration tutorials: http://www.ptc.com/products/tutorials/tech_illustrations.htm

Good luck for your career!
Bettina

By: Connected Content

Connected Content — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:59:52 +0000

Where Do You Get Professional Writing Experience?…

A fledgling technical writer named Jara wrote into I’d Rather Be Writing about a common Catch-22 situation faced by anyone wanting to get professional experience in writing…I need experience to get a job, but I can’t get a job without…

By: Writing Career

Writing Career — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:40:36 +0000

Thanks for the post
Now a day there is a huge demand of technical writers. A person who have a good command over written English and know how to write for a particular article or a press release. If you know these aspects of writing then there are many opportunities available in market.

By: Alistair Reece

Alistair Reece — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:45:39 +0000

oops – that link is:

http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Technical_writing

By: Alistair Reece

Alistair Reece — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:43:01 +0000

I am probably biased entirely, as a I spent a great of time collaborating on this, but a good place to start learning about how to do technial writing is the Wikiversity Technical Writing course, which is referenced above.

Alistair Reeces last blog post..User:Hadrian

By: David

David — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:38:17 +0000

Tom,
You’ve given a thoughtful and constructive answer to a tricky question. I’d say that the last method you suggest, that of developing your own portfolio, is a very useful suggestion for people in places where tech writing jobs and tech writing courses are thin on the ground.
In the past, I have suggested to people that they invent their own projects to write about, but your suggestion of actually contributing to the documentation for an open source product is a much better idea.

Davids last blog post..Hurrah for Dr Johnson