Technical Writing
Technical writers are those who write
technical and software manuals, handbooks, technical guides and
provide online help; anyone who writes about technology for other people
is typically referred to as a technical writer. A technical writer is someone who
explains the product to the end user. They put themselves in the end
use’s position and write to explain to them.
There are four “musts” for a technical
writer. The writer must have facility with the technology and latest
scientific systems. He must have the ability to write clearly. He must have the
talent to show ideas graphically, he must have patience
in troubleshooting and he must have the ability to interact with subject
matter experts.Technical writers write about almost everything from
informational brochures to scientific journals and web blogs.
Analysing the Audience
Knowing about a person you are writing is of a vital importance. If you don’t understand your audience, you will not be able to communicate to them properly. You can have surveys and questionnaires and opinions to form a picture of your audience in your mind. The marketing department usually has a clear idea of the intended buyers. They should be able to describe them to you in some detail, including demographic information and what kinds of similar products they have used in the past. Getting this information is a good first step to understanding your audience.You have to transfer what is in the heads of the product creators, into the heads of the people using the product.
Researching the Subject
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) have all the information you need.
Your job as a technical writer is to transfer that information to
other people. First you will have to learn what they know. This is crucial to
your success so you have to know how to get along with these experts. You should
interview these guys to find as much relevant information as possible. You
should personally meet these people not email them. These people are highly
intellectually enlightened about their fields of practice.
Structure of Information
If you are structuring information, you can
describe the product or explain it in terms of instructions – each
technique is selected according to the nature of product. Thus information
without a clear structure means nothing to the reader. Finally information
that is acquired after much struggle must be structured well.
Writing Clearly
The purpose of a technical writing is not to
impress but to inform and the more clearly and concisely you write, the more
effective and digestible information will be. In order to do that you must use
the vocabulary you audience uses so that they meet words which they already
know. The length of sentence is very important. The sentences for informational
writing should be short and the average sentence length is usually between 15
to 20 words. Don’t write fillers in writing because the reader is reading it to
fulfill a particular task, you writing should be direct and clear. There should
be no redundancy or verbosity. You should always use a present indefinite tense
as a general rule. For example:
- Click any file and your file opens.
- Click to open the program.
- Click a file to open it.
- Select Rename from the Edit menu.
- Enter the name and click Close.
- Type a new file name.
- Click Save.
- Click to exit.
Write as simply as possible and avoid jargons.
Sample Extract from E-Books
The following is an extract from my E-Book, 'Five Ways to Speak Fluent English'
I feel your pain. You know English but you cannot speak it fluently. You have spent a lot of time and energy of your life trying to learn to speak English fluently BUT no results. Once, I was in your position but now I can speak English fluently. Then I created NeoMethod based on Linguistics and my experience to help students like you to learn to speak English. My name is Naeem and I am your Language Trainer. Follow the Five Easy Steps and you will speak powerful English.
The following is an extract from my E-Book, 'Why you cannot get 7+ Bands in IELTS'.
The first and number No. 1 killer of your IELTS bands is your fear – the fear that low bands in IELTS will ruin your career, the fear that low bands in IELTS will deprive you of your foreign study and the fear that low bands in IELTS will not secure you foreign immigration. IELTS is only a matter of right strategies and techniques that you need to IMPLEMENT. Once you learn these techniques, you need to stay calm and focused and IELTS is in your pocket.
The following is an extract from my E-Book, 'Business English Strategy'.
We are in a new economy that is based on communication and performance. The business is globalized and it entirely depends on people who can communicate for profit. Now, communication means profit and loss in the new economy.
Finally
This is not the time to
show your ego of excessive knowledge of English but meet a particular
demand. You write to help people do their job—You are a conduit not a
fountain, you take information from the SMEs, provide it to the audience and
then let it go.
Nothing you write is “precious”. If it’s not useful to the audience, delete it.
Technical writing is a good profession
which you can adopt after learning some specific skills and knowledge.
Call/WhatsApp : 03129904422
E-mail: profnaeem@outlook.com Blog: neotrainings.blogspot.com
Looking for Technical Writing Services?
Send a message for quote.Call/WhatsApp : 03129904422
E-mail: profnaeem@outlook.com Blog: neotrainings.blogspot.com
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