Technical Writing
What is Technical Writing?
Technical writing is a style of writing where the author is writing about a particular subject that requires direction, instruction, or explanation. This method of writing has a very different purpose and different characteristics than other writing styles such as creative writing, academic writing, or business writing. The utility of technical writing is to make topics easy to understand and to inform a target audience about a particular subject area in detail.
My Technical Writing Process
Project Preparation
The project planning process begins when the technical document is requested. This step may be initiated by an employer, colleague, or client. With the request, the initial requirements are defined such as document type, subject area, content, goal, scope, and audience. Then drafting can begin.
Audience Analysis
After the initial project planning with the client or business, the biggest writing factor is identifying my target audience.
Understanding the User
In order to know who I am writing for, I have to gather as much information as possible about who will use the document. It is important for me to know if my audience holds expertise in the field, if the topic is totally new to them, or if they fall somewhere in between.
User Experience
User experience is just as important in a technical document as it is for a web shop’s mobile usability. Once I know my audience and their needs, I keep in mind how the document itself services their needs. Is it accessible? How would they be using it? When will they be using it? Is it easy to navigate? I always write a document that is useful to the user.
Target Audience
Technical writing is involved in communicating concepts and ideas for a specific target audience. Digital and print materials for this style of writing are meant to be read and used by industry professionals and consumers of the product or service such as those of the following found below.
My Technical Writing Skills
Instruction Manuals
An instruction manual is an important document that helps customers get on board with a specific product or service quickly and helps them solve an issue when they are stuck.
Product Descriptions
A product description provides potential customers with details and features about a product, what the product does, how much it costs, and where can they buy.
White Papers
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that informs readers about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision.
Business Marketing
Involves the creation and distribution of a diverse set of marketing assets that allows a business to advertise their products and services to other companies, organizations, and consumers alike.
Proposals
As a form of persuasive writing, a proposal attempts to convince the recipient to act in accordance with the writer's intent and at the same time, it outlines the writer's goals and methods. It is persuasive writing.
Analysis Reports
A business report that uses qualitative and quantitative company data to analyze as well as evaluate a business strategy or process while empowering employees to make data-driven decisions based on evidence and analytics.
Company Catalogs
A complete enumeration of items arranged systematically with descriptive details a catalog of the company's products or services.
Compare & Contrast Papers
A rhetorical style of writing that discusses the similarities and differences of two or more things such as ideas and concepts.
Project Outlines
Outlines are involved in project planning and management. It is a document that contains the course of action for milestones and tasks.
Software Descriptions
A description that provides an overview of key aspects of a software, such as features, tools, and other functions that perform specific tasks.