<p>How does one go about becoming a technical writer? Is a BA in English an appropriate degree for technical writing? My real dream is to become a tv writer, but given the great deal of luck, connections, and genie magic this would involve, I know I need a decent paying day job so that I won't end up as a starving writer. But I certainly don't want to end up doing a dull job involving zero creativity forever, so I would also like to know the nature of the work and if one would find it fulfilling as a permanent career. I was also wondering, if any parents here have pursued a 'safety net' career in order to pursue a more venturesome, risky career later, once you actually begin working in this safe career, do you lose sight of your original dream? I am afraid that if I become a technical writer, I will get so caught up in the duties and stress of the job that it will be difficult to pursue tv writing in my spare time. Thanks a lot :></p>
<p>It is possible to major in technical writing at some schools. My neighbor used to be chair of the technical writing department at our local community college. Even at a college that does not offer it as a major, the English dept will have some courses in technical writing.</p>
<p>So that's what I do (among other things), and I used to teach it. Not worth studying. Read a lot. Take some courses in logic, and rhetoric if they are offered. Learn how to dress and present yourself. Read Scientific American religiously. Cultivate your curiousity and many varied interests. At college, take as many classes outside your major as you can, including some you don't expect to do well in because they are outside your comfort zone (especially math, if that's true for you). Learn how to write in another language (in some areas, technical writing is similar.)</p>
<p>You have no idea how rare good writers are. If you are one of them, you will never go without work, and what you will learn in the process will continue to amaze you.</p>
<p>There are many different kinds of technical writing. </p>
<p>I worked as a technical marketing writer for 10 years. I wrote all kinds of promotional materials -- handbooks, operating manuals, press releases, ad copy, newsletter, training materials, and more -- for companies selling technical products such as pumps, valves, associated equipment, kerosene heaters etc. I also worked for an engineering firm.</p>
<p>I described my talents as the ability to talk to an engineer and translate what they told me from engineering gobbledygook blue sky into readable, comprehensible English. Being able to translate from Italian pictograph or Japanese-English into American English was an important skill. </p>
<p>I had 4 years of high school Latin, third year Spanish and Russian, plus basic pre-med/pre-vet college course and enough credits for a minor in English and/or Journalism. </p>
<p>This was before writing computer manuals was considered the primary assignment for technical writers.</p>
<p>I translate arcane data developed by social researchers in the field of chemical dependency and other aspects of social services delivery and translate it down to the level where legislators with high school educations can understand it at a glance, and advocates can make good use of it.</p>
<p>I am a technical writer. My specialty is making what is arcane, tax law, into what is hopefully understandable by the average person. It is a diferent skill than writing stories or plays. It takes a lot of practice and feedback. </p>
<p>I have also found that most technical writers aren't that good as writers. Just pick up any most computer manuals, and you will probably come to the same conclusion. In fact, some of these people make their subject so confusing as to confuse those who weren't confused before they read the manual!</p>
<p>There are some schools that have programs specfically in technical writing. Check out Carnegie Mellon. There are probably other schools with good technical writing programs as well.</p>
<p>I was a technical writer for a bank. This position was within the Publications Development department. We wrote policy and procedure manuals. Not all technical writing jobs are related to computers and technology. You might be surprised at the job possibilities.</p>
<p>I've also worked full-time and part-time as a tech writer for many years (since 1977). It really helps to have scientific and technical knowledge. Being an English major is very nice--the implication is that you do know grammar and how to put a sentence together correctly--but you MUST understand what you're writing about. Faking it is not good enough.</p>
<p>Do you have technical and scientific fields that you enjoy? Try writing some articles for one of the millions and millions of specialty magazines--in the field you know. For example, I've written articles on dog training (one hobby), SCUBA (another hobby), and cooking (one more), in addition to my primary tech work as a computer specialist. Back when I worked full-time, my specialty was reading computer code and figuring out what it did, writing it up, and then getting the programmers to verify my description, rather than trying to get the programmers to explain it to me. My services were correspondingly expensive, but I was fast and my method didn't pull the programmers away from their jobs. </p>
<p>MIT has an excellent program in tech writing, at both the UG and G level: <a href="http://web.mit.edu/catalogue/degre.human.writi.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://web.mit.edu/catalogue/degre.human.writi.shtml</a></p>
<p>Hi,
You are right about technical writing being sometimes dry and boring and sometimes non-creative. I work in a technical field as a development manager/engineer. I know a lot of technical writers. Many are from the publishing field or creative writing and doing this because it is a good paycheck. I've seen many people becoming frustrated with their jobs.
But there is no reason you could not write in your spare time. After all, many writers wait tables etc. to pursue their dreams.</p>
<p>I am a writer. You do not need a degree in English or anything specific to be a writer. You just need to be very good at written expression; it also helps to be a fast writer -- that is, to have the ability to dash off something that clearly expresses the ideas conveyed in a very short period of time. If you are the type who needs lots of time to mull things over and rewrite and redraft, you will find it hard to meet deadlines and you will be underpaid, as most writing is compensated by the size of the project as opposed to how much time you put into it. So, for example, when someone hires me to write a monthly column for $200 per article - I am being paid very well if I can write the piece in an hour, not so well if it is going to take me 2 days. </p>
<p>The way to get into the business is to write. And write. And write some more. You start off submitting stuff you've written for publication in contexts where you are unlikely to be paid -- basically doing content for web sites or articles/columns for specialty publications. That's how you build experience, a portfolio, and a resume. Because of course when you go to apply for a real job, the first question is going to be: what have you written? </p>
<p>Your college degree may be important for higher-end projects -- but if you want to specialize in a certain type of technical writing, then it would be better to have a degree in the specialty field, than in English. That is, you are more likely to be hired to write a computer programming guide if you can show you are an expert in computer programming... your ability to write will speak for itself.</p>
<p>Technical writing is not a highly lucrative occupation, but writing of any kind has the advantage of being very flexible. Great for those who are seeking part time or flex time work, or extra income to supplement whatever you get from your day job. </p>
<p>The very best thing to do if you want to be a professional writer is to start writing and getting your work published A.S.A.P. Do not wait for a degree - just write. As noted above, the first stage is to build experience & the portfolio - don't expect to be paid right away. Fortunately, in today's world, the publication part is easy - there are all sorts of prominent web sites that are always looking for content. If nothing else, you can blog.</p>
<p>Having an intuitive grasp of psychology is useful. To be successful, you must have a sense of your audience. It's one thing to write about a technical product for a technical audience, another to write about it for non-technical decision makers, yet another for a general population. (It also pays to have an editor who understands the distinctions but that's an occupational hazard.)</p>
<p>Goodness, lots of us do technical writing. I am responsible for some of of that dry software documentation. </p>
<p>"once you actually begin working in this safe career, do you lose sight of your original dream"</p>
<p>This is always a danger. Many factors impact one's ability to be creative on one's off hours. Your <em>need</em> to write is probably at the top of the list. Another factor is how exhausting your day job is: if you are doing tech writing without too many management bits, there is some prayer that you can leave your job at your job. Finally, there are many personal choices regarding priorities in life that you will have to make to carve out writing time. </p>
<p>Many people in creative pursuits need to find some method of putting food on the table that is not quite so ... creative. My cousin is an emmy-award winning documentary film maker in NYC. He drove cabs for many years getting there.</p>
<p>I think when my son and I were looking at colleges recently that the College of Santa Fe has a technical writing concentration. I don't have time to look it up for you, you might check it out.</p>
<p>Hi all I appreciate your great responses. I am actually already attending UC Berkeley, so I don't have the option of a specialized program in technical writing, but I will follow your advice about exploring many other related courses. And I will try my very best keep my screenwriting dream alive as I pursue a decent paying job. I guess I should also hope that the cards are stacked in my favor:></p>