According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of technical writers is projected to grow 12% from 2020 to 2030. This is faster than the average for all other occupations. Also, approximately 5,500 job openings are expected for technical writers each year.
If that data is any indication, technical writing is a lucrative career path if you have a passion for writing because the demand will only increase. So, if you’re interested in becoming a technical writer, that’s no better time than the present.
But what exactly is technical writing? How can you get started and become a writer who lands jobs with ease? This guide has all the information you need to pursue this career path.
What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing requires the writer to communicate complex information in an easy-to-understand way. This spans a variety of industries, including computer hardware and software, engineering, chemistry, robotics, and the medical and financial fields. However, it’s worth noting that nearly every industry uses technical writing in some shape or form.
It can cover a variety of mediums depending on what’s most appropriate for the topic at hand. For instance, technical writing can be reports, user manuals, instructions, documentation, and procedures, among other content types. As a result, writers need unique skillsets to have the ability and the confidence to craft accessible information.
Why Technical Writers Are in Demand
As mentioned above, jobs in the technical writing field are rising steadily, making it a worthwhile career path to pursue. But why is there such a need for writers in this field? One reason is that many jobs are becoming automated. It’s causing many people to worry about whether their job will become obsolete next.
However, robots haven’t perfected content creation. We still need humans to craft and review content to ensure it’s done properly. And, in the technical writing field, there’s no room for error, making human writers and editors essential.
Besides that, here are a few more reasons why technical writers are in demand:
Their Skillset is Unique: Not every writer has a knack for technical writing. When a company is looking to hire someone to handle their technical writing needs, they want someone who has great writing skills, knowledge of these complex fields, and the ability to research and understand the topics at hand. Only a handful of writers fit those criteria.
New Technology is Always Being Developed: The technology world is forever moving at a rapid pace. Every year, engineers develop new technologies and software, which means there’s a consistent need for technical writers to create content that corresponds to these new developments. That can include reports, instruction manuals, and more.
If you have a knack for explaining things concisely technical writing could be a good fit for your next career move. And, with practice and experience in the field, you’ll have a truly in-demand skill.
6 Technical Writing Tips to Improve Your Content
Technical writing is a great career path for those who love to write and are good at explaining complex ideas in simple language. However, it can still be a challenging field. Luckily, you can do a few things to improve your technical writing skills. Not only will these tips make your job more enjoyable, but they should help you land more opportunities as well.
1. Be Willing to Expand Your Knowledge
It’s safe to say the worst thing anyone can do these days is to assume they know everything there is to know about a particular field. The reality is, there’s always more to learn and room for improvement.
For that reason, you should be willing to expand your knowledge within your field by staying updated with the latest news and consuming other content in your industry. Doing this helps you better understand the topics you’ll write about and will boost your confidence as a writer.
Now, the great thing about technical writing is that you don’t need to have hands-on experience writing about your preferred field. For example, you don’t need to be a surgeon to write about medical-related topics. You can take the time to research and learn everything there is to know so you can effortlessly bring a high-quality piece of content to life.
2. Practice Your Craft
It’s not enough to just sit back and consume content from your industry. You need to put your knowledge and skills to use. That’s the only way you’ll become better at technical writing.
A great piece of advice you can implement is to read other technical documents, then try to figure out what makes them great or what improvements can be made to enhance the content. Being able to identify the qualities of a great piece of content will help to strengthen your writing.
From there, you can practice writing technical content of your own. You can even have a friend or a colleague review your work to offer their feedback. Because they likely won’t have experience or knowledge in the field you’re writing about, they can let you know if the content is easy to understand or if it’s still too complex for the average reader.
3. Get to Know Your Audience
Every great writer knows that you need to understand who your audience is before you can begin creating. This advice applies to everyone, not just those in the technical writing field. Knowing your audience helps you choose topics that they’ll find appealing. Plus, it ensures you write in a way that speaks directly to them and their level of knowledge on the topic.
For example, you’ll want to be mindful of the words you use. Instead of using specialized terms or complex jargon that will require your reader to break out the dictionary, use simple language they’ll understand without question. If you can’t explain something without the use of specialized terms, consider broadening your topic to explain it at a more general level.
An easy way to better understand your audience would be to learn directly from them. Where applicable, read any comments that have been left on a piece of technical writing. You can also read comments on different industry blogs. This will allow you to see what people are saying firsthand, so you’ll know whether they understand the content and if they enjoyed it.
4. Find Simple Ways to Explain Complex Topics
As you begin writing, focus on broad, basic facts so you can set up a strong foundation for your reader. They need to have a clear understanding of the entry-level details before you can go in-depth. If it helps, pretend you’re talking to a six-year-old. This requires you to cater to their smaller vocabulary, ensuring you present information in a way that makes sense to them.
You’ll also want to avoid complex jargon that the average reader wouldn’t understand. It’s also helpful to use shorter sentences and paragraphs, as it’ll be easier for your reader to consume the content and understand it. Bullet points and numbered lists can assist with that as well.
5. Include Graphics to Convey Information
Another way to easily explain complex topics is to incorporate graphics into your written content. Instead of using graphics merely for decoration, use them to convey information. Sometimes people are visual learners and need to see something to comprehend it. So, you should take the time to design quality graphics that complement your text or hire a designer to assist you.
6. Build a Strong Portfolio
When searching for writing jobs, an agency or publication will always ask to see some writing samples before hiring you. They want to know that you’re a skilled writer and can be trusted to deliver impressive copy that flows beautifully and has minimal errors. This is especially important in the technical writing field. However, it’s can be challenging to secure a job without experience.
So, what’s an aspiring technical writer to do? Well, you need to create your own experience. Since it’s unlikely that you’ll be hired without samples to back up your work, get creative and write up a mock piece of content.
Come up with a topic, a format, and determine who the target audience is. From there, you can begin writing. Take extra care to showcase your skills. Write a few different pieces of content and use them to create a strong portfolio that any employer would find intriguing.
Hire Our Expert Technical Writers
Did you know we have skilled technical writers on our team capable of crafting incredible content for your industry? These writers train in a variety of fields, including software and hardware development, finance, legal, and more.
Head over to our Content Shop to check out our services.
As content creators, getting into a writing schedule helps us to stay organized and keep on track when it comes to our work. But how exactly do you create a writing schedule that works for you? That’s what we talked about in this #ContentWritingChat! If you need a content creation schedule of your very own, this is the chat for you! Keep reading for some helpful tips!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Getting Into a Writing Schedule with Kelsey Jones
Our guest host for this week’s chat was Kelsey Jones. Kelsey is a marketing consultant, as well as a writer and the creator of MoxieDot. She knows how important it is to set a schedule and stick to it if you want to see results, so she shared tons of helpful advice with everyone in Tuesday’s chat!
Q1: What is the importance of having a writing schedule? How can it benefit content creators?
Not convinced you really need to have a writing schedule of your very own? We asked our chat participants to share why they think it’s important and how it can be beneficial. Check out what some of them had to say:
Julia knows that having a schedule and sticking to it is going to give you the discipline you need to get your content creation done. Without a set schedule, you risk procrastinating on your work and possibly not even finishing it.
She also reminds us that we shouldn’t fall into the trap of over scheduling. Julia said to allow time for inspiration to strike. And remember that one amazing post will always beat 10 crappy posts.
A1 Having a content writing schedule keeps self-imposed pressure on yourself to produce. #contentwritingchat
Think of having a writing schedule as your own deadline. As Jim said, it adds a little pressure to give you that motivation to produce new content. Sometimes you need that to actually create something new.
Having a schedule will ensure you’re staying productive and it holds you accountable. You don’t want to miss those deadlines you gave yourself, now do you?
A1a: It gives a level of accountability, forward planning, and consistency to production and strategic thinking. #ContentWritingChat
When you’ve laid out a plan, you’ll always know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. This is going to be crucial in helping you stay on track with your content creation.
Jess said that consistency and scheduling help her beat procrastination when it comes to writing. If you find you often procrastinate on writing, try setting a schedule and seeing if it helps you out.
A1 A writing schedule keeps your purpose ahead of your pencil. No need to ask “what to write” with a strategy & schedule #contentwritingchat
Kelsey starts by brainstorming topic ideas. She then likes to write headers and then begins creating her content. She even shared some of her favorite tools for coming up with great ideas.
Once you have an idea, jot down your thoughts, perform research, and then flesh out your post. Take some time away before coming back to proofread it. Once you’ve finished editing, you’re ready to hit publish!
Kelsey started writing early in the morning, but she also enjoys writing while on the plane. The key is to figure out what works best for you and plan your writing schedule accordingly.
When making time for writing, it always helps to look to your deadlines. You want to make sure you get everything done in time, which means you need to schedule accordingly.
On the flip side, if you find yourself most creative and productive later in the day, use that time to write! For Andrea, he writes mostly during 5 PM to 10 PM.
A3: I try to save my writing for the afternoon/evening, but I agree with those who say when inspiration hits, take it! #ContentWritingChat
For Sarah, she feels ready to write once the coffee kicks in!
Q4: What are your best strategies for becoming a better writer?
Even if you aren’t a natural-born writer, it doesn’t mean you don’t stand a chance of creating something amazing. You can always strengthen your skills! Here’s some advice that will help you out:
Kelsey’s advice is to keep reading. Whether you’er reading books, blog posts, or news articles, you can learn from it. She reads or listens to about two to three books per month, which is awesome.
Jess also agrees that reading is important. She says to learn new words, study the great writers, and even study bad writers. You can always take something away from reading their work.
Ray recommends getting some feedback on your writing. Have someone else (or a few people) read over what you’ve created and provide you with advice.
@ExpWriters A4: Read – Read as much as you can. Then, don’t be afraid to find a good critique partner where you can share and learn. #ContentWritingChat
Callie recommends pushing your limits and taking on projects that challenge you. It’s a great way to explore new things and get better at what you do.
Q5: What are your tips for remaining consistent when it comes to writing?
How exactly do you remain consistent with your writing? Our chat participants shared some helpful advice:
@writingchat A5 schedule writing time as a meeting in your cal, make it as easy as possible w topic list, dictation, & good beverage #contentwritingchat
Kelsey suggests scheduling writing time into your calendar as if it was a meeting. There won’t be any excuses for not getting it done when you’ve already block off time in your day.
She also says to make it easier on yourself by having a prepared topic list, a dictation tool, and a good beverage.
A5: Going back to Q1…have a schedule! Put someone in charge of that schedule to hold everyone accountable. #contentwritingchat
It all goes back to having a writing schedule. If you have a team, put someone in charge of creating and managing the schedule to ensure everyone stays on track.
— Maria Tereza Dickson (@terezadickson) May 23, 2017
It’s so simple, but it’s the most effective process. Plan your content, create a schedule, and stick to it if you want to see results. Maria knows this is key!
A5: Set a definitive editorial charter, style guide, and content strategy–and stick to them. #contentwritingchat
Work deadlines into your writing schedule. Ray recommends setting dates you need to have research done by, when you need to draft, and so on. This will keep you on track and help you get everything done on time.
@ExpWriters A5: Give yourself some deadlines (w/ flexibility if needed), try to keep them. E.g. weekly posts on Fridays. #contentwritingchat
Tony relies on notifications to stick to his schedule. You can add your tasks to a to-do list app or your calendar and set reminders so you don’t forget anything.
If it’s a lack of ideas that’s holding you back, go out and seek inspiration. Turning to other blogs and books can be just what you need to get those creative juices flowing.
@ExpWriters a5: Write with your own original voice. Don’t be something you’re not. Don’t squish words in that don’t fit your style! #ContentWritingChat
Kelsey usually knows something is great as she’s writing it because she starts to get into the flow. She also finds editing is easier on a piece of content she already likes.
A6: After a second set of eyes has looked at it. Never publish without a second opinion. #contentwritingchat
Julia always has someone else look over content before it’s published. If everyone loves it, it’s ready for publication. If not, changes have to be made.
A6 When your content states what you want to say in the way you want to say it, it’s ready. Don’t overthink it. #ContentWritingChat
Kelsey is still searching for that perfect tool, but she’s heard great thing about CoSchedule and Trello. These are both tools so many of our chat participants rely on. She does like to use Google Docs, Grammarly, and the Hemingway app.
Asana is a handy project management tool that can also double as your editorial calendar. Evernote is fantastic for storing ideas and also for drafting content.
If writing is your business, you need to treat it like one. Jim says to create goals, milestones, and rewards to push you along the way.
@ExpWriters A8 Commit! ?? Starting out can be the hardest part. Once you stick to schedule + writing time, it gets easier as you go. #ContentWritingChat
As Julia said, you have to commit. It gets easier once you’ve settled into your schedule.
@writingchat A8: If you’re a procrastinator, like myself, set deadlines for a few days earlier to eliminate last-minute stress. #ContentWritingChat
— Michele Elizabeth (@MicheleElizabth) May 23, 2017
Michele suggests setting deadlines a few days earlier to help eliminate last-minute stress. This gives you the flexibility of having more time if needed.
