Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Joys of Technical Writing


Anyone ever say you can’t make a living writing? Don’t believe it. Anyone doubt what you can do with Liberal Arts degrees? We’ll see who gets the last laugh.

Today, I’m blogging about my day job as a Technical Writer in the Tech Industry. My day starts off with more than just documentation. I actually am often playing the roles of part-organizer, part-detective when trying to hash out a process for engineers or create a new wiki page for a PM. Needless to say, I get to write every day on projects that help improve efficiency and transparency within the company and play my own small part in pushing the industry forward. The technological revolution we live in today is truly on par with the Renaissance and other great shifts that have occurred in history, and I’m thrilled to be in the midst of this world-changing movement.

So how do you bring writing into your everyday? Maybe you teach or perhaps you’re a journalist? Perhaps you’re an aspiring novelist or maybe you’re a Tech Writer like me? How does your writing effect the world around you?  


12 comments:

  1. I do computer work and web design, so there is writing involved there along with what I do as an author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I used to be a teacher... but regardless of your career- I think writing is important- things such as well composed emails, reports, presentations are so important in any job! :)

    Great post- loved learning more about you:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. This give me home for my future. I've just declared an English Major and a Creative Writing Minor. I know there are lots of writing jobs out there, but I still find myself wondering what on earth I'll end up doing for a day job.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Um, I'm a blogger. :P

    And I write just about every day on the stinking novel, but can't say it's ever paid more than about a hundred and fifty bucks in some prize money. But some day I aspire to make two or even three hundred dollars!! Just wait until I'm published!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm a higher education marketing writer. So I write everyday, almost 9+ hrs a day some weeks! Even though I feel like some forms of writing change lives/influence others in a more tangible way, I'd like to think that my marketing writing is helping shape the future for millions of high school students as they search for a college to call home. Some day I believe I will change lives with the words in my novels.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well it often involves writing complaints to people like my bank manager and why he refuses to give me more money and other such like ;) Then there's the blog hops and the blogging and the notes stuck to my door for the courier because I can't possibly stay in... plus I then write some slot fillers for magazines and PR for companies etc. Oh and I write in my art journal in an arty kinda way!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I taught elementary school for 20 years, and specialized in teaching writing. I miss my students now that I've retired, but my gr-daughters are beginning writers!

    Have a marvelous Easter with your little boy. Post more photos, just for fun.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I write for the newspapers and I also taught Creative Writing for a few years. Have a Happy Easter, Mark.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Technical writing's not my thing. I love disappearing into worlds of my creation and hanging out with my characters. :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. I teach beginning academic writing at a nearby university. Though I'm not sure it really influences the world -- I often worry when grading that the lessons aren't getting through!

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's great to see so much writing being put to great use out there:) I suppose their are lots more of writing related professions I forgot to mention, such as law, politics, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I took a few courses in Technical Writing - I think it's a great skill. The world needs people who can translate jargon and industry-specific words to something more accessible!

    ReplyDelete