Technical Writing Exercise - Technical Writing Fact And Fable by Bryan S. Adar

Technical Writing Exercise - Technical Writing Fact and Fable

This exercise is intended to help separate fact from fiction. Is tech writing as glamorous as some people think? All fun and games, high pay, rich food, and fame? First, take the True/False quiz about being a tech writer, then check the straight story.

Are the following statements True or False?

1. They get paid well, but they don’t get much recognition.

2. This is a profession, and tech writers are professionals.

3. They’re immune to writer's block.

4. They’re able to be “lone wolves” who don’t need many “people skills.”

5. They have to be an expert on a subject to write about it.

6. People who are already good writers can also be technical writers.

7. They need to be very knowledgeable about modern technology.

8. They need good language skills.

9. They need good analytical skills.

10. They need to be skilled in all popular computer programs.

11. They’re limited to the field of knowledge they're trained in.

When you're done check the solution below.

Exercise - Answer

Here are the answers to the Fact and Fable quiz. How accurate is your view of technical writing?

1. They get paid well, but they don’t get much recognition.

True. Taking an average across the country, established tech writers are well paid. They’re not well recognized. Since they do what is called “work for hire,” their writing becomes the property of the client. The writer’s name almost never appears any place the public can see it.

2. This is a profession, and tech writers are professionals. Absolutely true. By the very nature of the work, tech writers frequently handle sensitive and even secret material. They’re privy to information that could seriously hurt their clients if it got into the wrong hands. When writers accept payment for their work, their professional responsibility is to produce a quality product, within the allotted timeframe, and at or below the allotted budget. But that’s only part of it. As professionals, it’s their responsibility to uphold the reputation of their clients even after the task is complete. It’s fundamental to being a professional that they never do anything that will injure or discredit their clients.

3. They’re immune to writer's block.

True for the simple fact that there’s no reason not to know what to write about. Not being able to think of what to write is a problem for purely creative writers. Unlike creative writers whose ideas come from their own minds, tech writers are given the subject and the expected outcome. Besides, as a writer-for-hire, tech writers always have a budget and a deadline. They just don’t have the luxury of having writer’s block.

4. They’re able to be “lone wolves” who don’t have many “people skills.”

False. Far from it. If they don’t like people, they probably won’t like being a tech writer. Tech writing is a highly collaborative activity. Not everything writers need to know can be found in books or online. They frequently need to track down information from sources both inside and outside an organization. That can involve person-to-person interviews with people who don't have much time to spend with a writer, or they may end up working with several SMEs at once. They spend time on job sites talking with supervisors, workers, or contractors. They need to be able to talk to all kinds of people in whatever situation they find them in.

5. They have to be an expert on a subject to write about it.

False. In fact, there are times when not knowing a lot about a subject can make a person a better technical writer. It's called controlled ignorance. The SME knows the subject …#34; perhaps too well. Recognizing what was most difficult to understand about the subject themselves makes it easier for the writer to decide how to handle the subject for the non-expert they’re writing to.

6. People who are already good writers can also be technical writers.

False. Being able to right good poetry or western novels doesn’t mean they’ll be good tech writers. It’s a specialized field that calls for specialized skills. And that takes training.

7. They need to be very knowledgeable about technology.

False. If they’re generally aware of how an internal combustion engine, a nuclear reactor, a light bulb, a computer program, or a jet plane works, they can find out what they need to know with proper research and input from people who are experts.

8. They need good language skills.

True. True. True. Writing skills alone won’t make someone a good tech writer, but not having good language skill will certainly keep someone from being one. Clients can’t afford writers who can’t write in a clear, concise, and correct manner.

9. They need good analytical skills?

True. Normally, at the start of work, writers are given an “information dump” of fact, figures, and ideas, and they’re expected to make sense out of it all. They need to be able to organize information coherently, analyze situations, and propose solutions.

10. They need to be skilled in all popular computer programs.

False. They need to be knowledgeable about commonly used programs such as ExcelR and VisioR, but they only need to be skilled in word processing. The more they know about building PowerPointR presentations or the capabilities of PhotoShopR the better, but they’ll most likely work with people who are skilled in specialized programs. 11. They’re limited to the field of knowledge they're trained in.

This can be either true or false depending on how it’s meant. If they already work in a field like aerodynamics or pharmaceuticals, and that’s the only field they know anything about, they’re going to be limited as a tech writer. But, if the field of knowledge they’re trained in is technical writing, then they’re not limited because they can write on any subject.

Being a tech writer is a great job. Go interesting places, meet really smart people, learn new things and make really good money. Which is why it’s such a rapidly growing profession. The down side, though, is that there are people who get into the business without knowing as much about it as they should.

If you want to become a technical writer try out our free weekly exercises. They are easy and fun to do. You'll also learn common tech writing terms and current industry trends. Click the link below to check out these exercises:

http://www.techwritertoolkit.com/exercises.html

About the Author

Bryan S. Adar is a successful technical writer and instructional designer. Bryan has lived in the United States for 8 years. Prior to that he lived in India where he was born and raised.

In these past 8 years he’s accomplished a lot. He graduated from school, learned technical writing and worked for companies like Shell, Halliburton, Continental Airlines and British Petroleum. Over these years he’s written dozens of technical manuals, repor