How to be To be a successful Technical Writer?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics defines technical writers as those who “…put technical information into easily understandable language. They work primarily in information-technology-related industries, coordinating the development and dissemination of technical content for a variety of users
You need have Product knowledge, Technical knowledge and User knowledge. Knowing users helps us plan the right information architecture for the documentation and hence we can apply our technical and product knowledge accordingly.
Most of the time the technical writers work together with editors, graphic designers and illustrators, document specialists, content managers, instructional designers, trainers, and analysts to produce an amazing variety of deliverables, including:
Contracts Online and embedded help Requirements specifications
Customer Service scripts Policy documents Simulations
Demonstrations Process flows Training course materials
Design documents Project documents User manuals
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Product catalogs Warning labels
How-to videos Product packaging Web-based Training
Instructions Proposals Websites
Knowledge base articles Release notes White papers
Reference guides
The tools required for technical writers are Adobe Acrobat, SnagIt from Techsmith, Microsoft Visio, Camtasia from Techsmith,Adobe Captivate, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Robohelp,Adobe Framemaker,capture from Madcap Software,Adobe Dreamweaver,Gimp from gimp.org,Presenter from Articulate,Abobe Flash professional, DITA Open Toolkit,Blaze from madcap software,Help studio from Innovasys,Help & Manual from EC software etc.
Further knowledge of WordPress, Microsoft Office tools, HTML, Screenpresso, QuickBooks, POS systems is added advantage.
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