You're considering a career in technical writing. What skills should you focus on?

Obviously, to be a writer you have to like writing. Technical writing is about communication and describes the process of making complicated information clear and accessible to others. A technical writer may be writing for a specific audience, in which case the language tailors toward the vocabulary of that industry using tools and techniques, such as simplified technical English. Learning about communication styles can help you pursue a career that suits your interests and, at the same time, develop the appropriate skills. Issues such as good structuring of content are essential, but by mastering the techniques to do so, you will achieve a clear and concrete way of expressing yourself, which is useful beyond work.

It’s helpful to understand mapping content effectively through appropriate content strategy. It doesn’t do any good to add content if it can’t be quickly located or doesn’t make any sense within the user flow.

The foremost skill required for a Technical Writer is proficient writing ability. Technical Writers should be able to explain complex concepts using clear and straightforward language, ensuring that individuals of varying levels of expertise can easily comprehend the matter.

Bruce Mattys, my editor when I worked at Executrain, advised me to "Write informational documentation, not just to be understood, but to be difficult to misunderstand." He also advised me to "Write as if your words will be translated into Japanese and then translated back to English. Avoid metaphors and idioms that could be mistranslated, write as succinctly as possible, and always use proper U.S. Business English." That advice always has worked for me.

I disagree about programming. LinkedIn, where did you get your information from? And from how many years ago is it? No, really! These days, Technical writers are found in many fields, and no, they don't always have anything directly to do with code, although it helps if a tech writer is not scared of code.

That's some "AI's" nonsense right there (and the current implementation bears nothing in common with intellect, sorry, "AI"). Once I have "a solid understanding of programming languages and frameworks", why should I stay a (significantly less paid compared to the engineers) techwriter? Explaining the usefulness of particular implementations is on engineer leads and product owners - we just shape the explanation into something an average reader would grasp. And we care about the markdown code render rather than speculating about how stuff we haven't implemented works or why it's so great. There are subject matter experts (SMEs) who should provide the information. We are technical writers, we write, and not assume or interpret things.

That is the most important skill of a tech-writer, in my book. Abilities to analyze and validate information in any form and shape and to synthesize and convey information as to be digestable and useful for the user lie at the core of the tech-writer's profession.

A great technical writer is first and foremost a great writer. The "technical" part is simply your specialty or vertical market. In this case, your palette is proper U.S. English, your canvas is your presentation, whether it's a technical document, an article, or a screen-sharing demo in a Zoom meeting, the way you present information will make or break you. Learn to use your tools (e.g., Business English, Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.), but keep your main tool your sharpest - your fluency and ability to communicate well.

Wow! Amazing! I almost forgot that I do end up using design tools. Lots. Tech writing is about communication. And communication is not just done with words. Visual communication is just as important. However, just because I use design tools doesn't mean that I'm a designer. It helps tremendously to work with a designer.

Absolutely! Visually aesthetic elements plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall understanding and impact of technical writing. It helps to convey complex information in a more digestible and engaging way. Integrating visual elements like diagrams, charts, and infographics can greatly enhance the effectiveness of technical writing

It's not a tech-writing-specific skill, all the points are valid and relevant for just about any position in any industry unless we talk about warehouse loaders or pipeline workers.

As a technical writer, you're going to get LOTS of learning from feedback. Don't wait for it to come to you — be proactive and seek it out. Challenge yourself to ask managers, contractors, and writing peers about what you could do better (because frankly, there's always something). In a year, you won't recognize your old writing at all.

This is by far the most important skill to enhance for beginner technical writers. Continuous improvement is key, and the ability to learn from feedback, whether it's from peers, mentors, or even your audience, is essential. By actively seeking and incorporating feedback, you can identify areas for improvement, refine your writing style, and enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your technical content.

Attention to details: When it comes to technical writing, irrespective of what subject matter one selects, attention to details is highly imperative. The keen eye for noticing the details, being able to read between the lines, and to be able to deliver the crucial topics in the most laymen manner is what it needs.

One important thing to keep in mind, especially for beginner technical writers, is consistency. To make a significant impact, ensure to be consistent in providing content to users and keep up that consistency in the long run