I have a chat with the awesome Stacey Dandridge and dive into the world of Technical Writing. Make sure you’re polished before public release with a Technical Writer! In this episode, we chat about why you need a writer, where to find them, and how you can succeed if you are looking to become one yourself.
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Stacey Dandridge – Stacey is a kick-butt Senior Technical Writer with more than 9 years worth of experience in many overlapping industries. She tends to always come back to writing because she loves the ‘puzzle’ aspect of being a technical writer. We sit down and chat with her on finding a technical writer and becoming a technical writer.
Email: stacey@stroberconsulting.com
Website: stroberconsulting.com
What is a Technical Writer?
Someone who can take words and writing that are complex and translate it to something that is easily digestible and consumable. Something that someone can learn from it. It can be considered an art and a science because you have to translate the piece without losing the meaning. The reader should be successful with whatever task with what they are attempting to complete. Think of creating a pamphlet or instructions for a product or service.
Are there any difference between other writer?
Absolutely! The foundation is there between all writers, but a Technical Writer effectively helps to digest a complex piece into something that a layperson can understand. A Technical Writer can also differ based on the industry as the needs, jargon, and outcome of the writing will change. Translating information from an engineer, web developer, or product to something easier to understand. A writer can be involved with user guides, software manuals, whitepapers, regulatory documents, and more!
When should you use a Technical Writer?
The sooner the better would be ideal, but closer to the beginning of the project would help the writer understand the project/product. The writer can also help process move and flow in a more holistic understanding of the product from a customer or user perspective.
Why should you use a Technical Writer?
Technical Writers help create a more polished product by looking at it from a fresh pair of eyes. The writers help by bringing a different perspective to the product, especially from a users lens. The product will be easier to use, retain customers, and have less abandonment. Its obvious when a user guide, documentation, or other information has been poorly written. The same goes for when a technical versus non technical person has written the piece. The Technical Writers expertise will effectively convey your message.
How big of a project should it be for a Technical Writer?
The size of a project is not important. You can use a writer at almost any size of project or company. You do not need to wait until you are a large organization before you can bring on a writer. The writers job is there to help polish your products documentation to convey information in easier and precises ways. You can hire writers for short periods of times rather than full-time staff if you are worried about the size of your project.
Where can I find Technical Writers?
You can find qualified and effective writers from the ‘Society for Technical Communication’ (stc.org). You can use this website for both finding writer and promoting yourself as a writer. The job board is very effective to find professional writers. You can use www.stc.org to find specific Technical Writers based on what you need for your industry and expected outcome!
What to look for in a Technical Writer?
The writer should have some degree of industry knowledge. That person should be able to talk about the subject in some aspect to show proficiency in the chosen industry. You can also request an editing test with strategically placed errors that range in difficulty. This can be used to determine the level of expertise.
Pay attention to the type of technical writer as well as their specialty. You may have a personal product that you need a writer for but the interviewed writer is more experienced with industrial products. The skills may be similar, but the writer may have a different audience focus when writing.
What separates a superstar Writer from a common Writer?
A rock star Writer will be big on paying attention to detail, breaking things down into smaller components, use less words, and look at the document from the lens of a teacher. Keeping up with your industry as well as best-practices when it comes to writing and the tools that are used with writers.
What rate should I expect?
The level of experience as well as location causes this to very. A mid to entry level would be looking at about $60,000 while a senior and larger organizations can make well into the 6-figures. A senior writer at Google, for example, can make around $120,000. The more you can add to your portfolio, skill sets, and industries can help raise your base pay.
For hourly rates, this also varies. An average of $20-25/hr is an expected rate for a Technical Writer. You’ll be paying more for a more experience writer as well as someone who is more niche to what you need. A small project team can take advantage of this by hiring a writer for lower engagement hours to help keep cost down.
How much time should you take towards Technical Writing?
This answer is complex because it ranges based on the engagement. Something as basic as business writing case studies your looking at something significantly lower. A large engagement or document such as a product re-launch or in-depth guide would take longer and therefore cost more.
How to estimate time needed?
There is not really a formula because each document is different. Describing the work, content, industry, etc about the document will allow the Technical Writer to have a better handle on what to expect. The writer will then be able to give you a more accurate quote.
An alternative route to take to get a closer estimate of the final cost would be to budget a small engagement amount, such as 5-hours, to allow the technical writer to flush out the potential cost of the piece.
How to become a Technical Writer? 31:28 Mark
Learn the Industry that You’re Aspiring to Go Into
- IT space
- Finance space
- Medical space
Find organizations that are in that industry you are attempting to branch into. You’ll be able to “talk the talk” when it comes to interacting with the customers. When you specialize, you can be tapped to do the job much easier, command a higher pay, and find work easier than most.
Educational Programs and Track of Learning
Programs in college can help get you started, but it can be very broad. There is not a requirement to have a degree in technical writing as you can have a large variety of technical background. One commonality that helps make people successful is an interest in writing beforehand. There is not a specific degree such as “Technical Writing”, but something that is related to the field you’d like to write for would be greatly beneficial.
Build a Portfolio
Building a very impressive portfolio to show and market what you’re capable of. Someone who is just starting out may think that they don’t have anything, you can create samples based on case studies and/or technologies of what you already know. You can use this as a proof to potential customers and leads on what you’re capable of doing.
Cater and tone your portfolio to the role that you are applying for.
Resumes for Technical Writers
Your resume is different when it comes to a technical writer because this will be your first sample. People who will be reviewing your resume will be looking for small things such as Jargon, Flow, Punctuation, and other writing techniques. The person reviewing your resume will be using your resume as an example of what they will be hiring you for. The more important of a job, the closer they will be looking at your resume for techniques, style, and errors.
Cater and tone your resume to the role that you are applying for.
Research the Potential Client
Research the industry and the potential client. You’ll be able to specify your resume and understand the client a lot better. It speaks volume if you’re able to have a conversation that shows that you have knowledge about the client and industry.
Get Involved
Start networking no matter what level you are. You’ll find that you have more and better opportunities when you do start networking. Join professional groups and get involved. Create a profile on LinkedIn, Society for Technical Communication (stc.org), or Write the Docs (writethedocs.org).
Finding Jobs and Opportunities
Use the internet as your tool with sites such as indeed.com, stc.org, and LinkedIn.com. Don’t limit yourself geographically! You can widen the net of prospective clients by searching for “remote”. This world is getting much more disconnected, you can connect with almost everyone almost everyone in the world.
Make Your Worth
A first time technical writer should be commanding close to $22-25/hr, but you have to show your worth. Don’t short change yourself and leave money on the table. Your skill is valuable and important. As you progress in skill, experience, and specialization, your rates will and should go up!
Push the envelope and get the earning potential you can get!
Don’t be afraid to ask for ask for more money to the organization or company that can afford you. Pay attention to the company or organization and scale your proposal accordingly. You’re valuable and worth it.
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Links List
- Strober Consulting – stroberconsulting.com
- Society for Technical Communication – stc.org
- Write the Docs – writethedocs.org