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(Results for My 10 Technical Writing Stereotypes Survey
October 8th, 2008 | Posted in Technical Writing |
Nearly two weeks ago I posted a survey about 10 technical writing stereotypes. 221 people participated in the survey. The results are below.
1. Technical writing is boring.
Generally True: 7%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 46%
Generally False: 47%
2. Technical writing stifles your creativity.
Generally True: 10%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 32%
Generally False: 58%
3. You do a lot of writing as a technical writer.
Generally True: 12%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 47%
Generally False: 41%
4. You need a job in technical communication to get a job in technical communication.
Generally True: 23%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 41%
Generally False: 36%
5. Technical writers are second-class citizens in IT departments.
Generally True: 28%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 47%
Generally False: 25%
6. Technical writers feel as if they’ve sold out.
Generally True: 6%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 23%
Generally False: 71%
7. You can easily support a family with other writing careers outside of technical writing.
Generally True: 17%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 41%
Generally False: 42%
8. You have to know a lot of tools to break into technical communication.
Generally True: 26%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 43%
Generally False: 31%
9. Technical writers are introverted, isolated, boring geeks.
Generally True: 7%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 38%
Generally False: 55%
10. Because IT technologies change so frequently, you have to spend large amounts of your spare time just keeping up with what’s new.
Generally True: 16%
Sometimes True, Sometimes False: 35%
Generally False: 48%
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Tags: careers in technical writing, myths, stereotypes, survey
October 8th, 2008 at 10:38 am
[...] Results for My 10 Technical Writing Stereo Types Survey | Id Rather Be Writing - Tom Johnson. Tom Johnson | October 8, 2008 | permalink Tags: careers, stereotypes, surveys [...]
October 9th, 2008 at 7:44 am
It would be interesting to submit the same survey to folks that are not Technical Writers.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:45 am
…or even “who” are not Technical Writers (m’bad).
October 10th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Hm, interesting in some ways, but expected in most. As I expected, few saw technical writing as boring, but I’m surprised most don’t feel technical writing means keeping up with technology in spare time. One reason I love technical writing is how it forces me to learn, learn, learn. I keep up with design and programming as well as tech writing, and struggle to keep up with web design technologies and programming languages as well as tech writing standards and general writing techniques.
I was surprised so many said a lot of writing isn’t part of technical writing, though I guess they’re thinking of research and interviewing with SME’s along with other elements of communications like communicating with users and designing graphics?
October 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
I love very much technical writing is how it force me to learn lot I keep up with design and programming as well as tech writing, and struggle to keep up with web design technologies and programming languages as well as tech writing standards and general writing techniques.
it would be great fun to submit the same survey to folks that are not Technical Writers.
November 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
[...] 10 Technical Writing Stereotypes Survey [...]