In the writing sphere, technical writing is said to be a valuable, important skill. Of course, you would know that – why else would you search on becoming a technical writer. The importance of technical writing as a career can be denoted by research claiming how by 2026, this career will experience an 11% growth.
Technical writing is exceptionally important for those who are working in tech businesses, scientists, and engineers who wish to communicate their findings and knowledge and, of course, for those who are willing to make a living out of it.
To be a technical writer, you need to be open to doing multiple things. From product description writing services to writing listicles, as a technical writer, you need to have the right command over this field.
As technology grows more prominent with the passing of a day, if you are wondering technical writing is dying, you are mistaken. Every area requires technical writers, and because of their importance, being a technical writer pays you well.
Having all of this said, the main question you might be asking yourself is, how can you become a technical writer?
Before we get into the details, you need to understand that technical content writing jobs are not only about recording and understanding technical information.
This type of career as a writer requires creative writing and producing processes and information content that hits the respective target audience.
The Three Core Aspects of Technical Writing
1. You Enjoy Working on Texts
If you are found to work on texts, you are the perfect fit for technical writing. The common notion in a technical writing career is that this field is concerned with written material only. On the contrary, proofreading, structuring, and editing are significant areas of concern in technical writing.
2. You Want to Teach People
As mentioned earlier, documentation is an essential part of technical writing. This process acts as a book that guides people. So, to become a technical writer, you need to have the ability to explain the content to the masses concisely and clearly. Think of yourself as a teacher teaching technical material to your students with written content.
3. You Wish to Learn New Elements
Technical writers have a learning attitude – they are fond of learning and dealing with new devices and tools that could ease things for non-technical, potential audiences.
If you are planning on pursuing technical writing as a career, note that this form of writing includes multiple types of documentation, such as:
- Marketing documentation
- User documentation
- API documentation
- Product feature documentation
So far, you might have additional questions in your head: “Is technical writing a good career? Do technical writers work from home? Does technical writing pay well? What are the qualifications do I need to become a technical writer?” and various more. Step by step, let’s answer these concerns.
Best Money You Can Make as a Writer
In the USA, an average content writer makes $16.05 in one hour. Depending on numerous factors, technical writers make around $50,000 to $200,000 per year. These factors revolve around:
- Your speed at producing quality content
- Quality of the work you are producing
- The company giving you large projects
So, with these elements in your favor, you can easily earn more than what an average content writer makes.
You Don’t Need the Right Education or Experience to Join the Profession
With a 4-year bachelors/undergrad degree, you can quickly join the technical writing profession. You do not need any certain subject-wise degree to be a part of this writing sector;
knowledge and command over your written skills as well as understanding technical aspects of your products/area are crucial. So, if you are planning to become a technical writer after majoring in Accounting and Finance, go for it!
You Will Always Remain Interested About Your Work
Do you know how people working from 9 am to 5 pm always find their jobs annoying? How have we heard that these jobs are mind-numbing and never lead to anything productive? This isn’t the case in technical writing. In this form of work, you always have a chance to learn something new.
With new ethics, methods, and technologies introduced in the late 21st century, you will be in this field to learn something new while educating others.
Having all of this said, technical writers also have the chance to work from home, just like every other content writer. Conclusively, it is a win-win situation if you become a technical writer.
If you are good with words and have a passion for educating people regarding the technical aspects of technology, being a technical writer is the perfect field for you. If you are up for the challenge, what’s stopping you?
