Anonymous
04/20/2013 13:29
Subject: What are the specific differences between a technical writer and a professional "writer" ?
I'm a professional writer and I write copy for marketing and communications materials, ads, etc. Different skill set than being a journalist. My work isn't really edited by others - that's my job. I work in a particular industry and have knowledge of that industry.
What you are describing (depth in a subject area) isn't what people mean when they are talking about "technical writing" as a career field. Technical writers usually work for science or technology companies and write documentation like user manuals. It's more about the type of product they produce than their background or technical expertise (although that can be helpful).
What you are describing (depth in a subject area) isn't what people mean when they are talking about "technical writing" as a career field. Technical writers usually work for science or technology companies and write documentation like user manuals. It's more about the type of product they produce than their background or technical expertise (although that can be helpful).
Anonymous
04/18/2013 12:43
Subject: Re:What are the specific differences between a technical writer and a professional "writer" ?
Anonymous wrote:It really depends on the job: a technical writer who writes instruction manuals will have different skills and experience than a technical writer who writes project status reports for a business. The job may or may not require education/experience in the technical field at issue: sometimes you really have to understand the details, and sometimes you just have to be able to take what the engineers/scientists tell you and turn it into clear and understandable English.
FYI, I am not a technical writer myself, but I work with several and DH got his start that way. All the technical writers I know have experience editing others' work, and their work is reviewed by others (peers or otherwise). Many, but not all, do some basic research as part of their work. None of those I know have backgrounds in journalism; most are English majors (literature or otherwise) although some schools do offer technical writing specialties. All would consider themselves professional writers, in that they are paid for writing and editing.
Also, journalists cover the "news" and I put that in quotes b/c that word is elastic -- from breaking news to general societal trends.
Writing manuals, grant proposals etc. is a different kind of writing.
Anonymous
04/15/2013 19:07
Subject: Re:What are the specific differences between a technical writer and a professional "writer" ?
It really depends on the job: a technical writer who writes instruction manuals will have different skills and experience than a technical writer who writes project status reports for a business. The job may or may not require education/experience in the technical field at issue: sometimes you really have to understand the details, and sometimes you just have to be able to take what the engineers/scientists tell you and turn it into clear and understandable English.
FYI, I am not a technical writer myself, but I work with several and DH got his start that way. All the technical writers I know have experience editing others' work, and their work is reviewed by others (peers or otherwise). Many, but not all, do some basic research as part of their work. None of those I know have backgrounds in journalism; most are English majors (literature or otherwise) although some schools do offer technical writing specialties. All would consider themselves professional writers, in that they are paid for writing and editing.
FYI, I am not a technical writer myself, but I work with several and DH got his start that way. All the technical writers I know have experience editing others' work, and their work is reviewed by others (peers or otherwise). Many, but not all, do some basic research as part of their work. None of those I know have backgrounds in journalism; most are English majors (literature or otherwise) although some schools do offer technical writing specialties. All would consider themselves professional writers, in that they are paid for writing and editing.
Anonymous
04/15/2013 10:07
Subject: What are the specific differences between a technical writer and a professional "writer" ?
By professional, I mean someone who went to J-school, was a reporter / writer, does fact checking and research on their own, maybe did some editing along the way. Whose work was vetted by peers or seniors.
In other words, not a blogger or a twitterati.
I'm trying to understand how a technical writing experience is developed, and, if you're an expert in one specialized topic (defense, transportation) .... is that really transferable to a completely different topic of technical writing (oncology) ? It would seem the expertise needed to be a "technical writer" wouldn't transfer, but maybe I'm misunderstanding.
In other words, not a blogger or a twitterati.
I'm trying to understand how a technical writing experience is developed, and, if you're an expert in one specialized topic (defense, transportation) .... is that really transferable to a completely different topic of technical writing (oncology) ? It would seem the expertise needed to be a "technical writer" wouldn't transfer, but maybe I'm misunderstanding.