In my last blog I discussed freelance writing as a copywriter. In this blog I am going to talk about another area of writing as a technical writer.
Like copywriting, I see a lot of job opportunities for this area of writing. A technical writer is responsible for creating documentation that is of a technical nature and targeted to a specific audience.
This can include writing guidebooks, how-to books, manuals, assembly instructions, software and other types of documents. This writer works in the fields of biology, medicine, industrial machinery, engineering, physics and an assortment of other ones.
Good research skills are important, since a technical writer will be assigned a project in which they are expected to understand the subject matter. This will require extensive research into it. A technical writer will need to know the ins and outs of it, how it works and will then have to communicate this to an audience in an understandable, clear way.
Most technical writers will work with an editor, who is responsible for checking grammatical and spelling errors. An editor will also determine if the document is written in a way that can be understood.
Technical writers not only have to possess strong research skills but they must have strong communication skills and be able to meet tight deadlines. A technical writer is almost like a teacher, in that they are explaining to others how something works, so education is very important in this field.
Some industries may require a degree in their particular industry. Otherwise those with degrees in English, communications or journalism might be able to break into this field.
You can make a decent living with this type of writing. Opportunities are growing in this field and many can find working as a technical writer something you do in an office or right from your home.
If you work or have worked as a technical writer, what tips can you offer to other writers?
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Freelance Writing Opportunities
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