Tips,for,Tech-Writers,Tech-wri computer 10 Tips for Tech-Writers
Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc ----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a
Tech-writing is a tricky business. Its not a very high profile industry, so theres not much support around. Follow these 10 quick tips, and youll be well on your way to a satisfying tech-writing career.Follow a sensible career path STEP 1: Start in a teamSTEP 2: Stay only just long enoughSTEP 3: Manage yourselfSTEP 4: Manage a teamSTEP 5: Go contracting (depends on the market) Knowledge is your lifeblood learn the politics of your company. Know who knows what. Find someone who consistently gives you timely, reliable, technically accurate answers, and get their name tattooed on your shoulder! Every company has at least one. And they may not be in the project manager/product manager/customer/programmer roles. They are generally the people whove used the product in the real world, and dealt with real world customers. Communicate WITH, not AT. Tech-writers dont have enough power to get away with communicating at. Track stuff (take spreadsheet printout and write it up on the board). Develop good product and domain knowledge The more you can figure out for yourself, the better off youll be (and the more respect youll get from the techies). Find out who your users are, what they are trying to do, what they are having trouble doing, and how they want to be helped. Then provide this assistance. Help the user do what they are trying to do. Dont just tell them what the product can do a help system is only helpful if it addresses the users needs. Treat everyone as a customer. Then manage their expectations and your commitments. Always ensure they know what youre doing. Tell them when youll be finished. And pull out all stops to meet your deadline. Provide a surrogate user testing mechanism for the development team providing usability feedback. Work as hard as required to get good quality doco finished on time and to budget this is how youll get the satisfaction out of work that you need. Have fun with it. Dont become jaded and cynical by the high-tech, harsh, uncaring IT world. Use your smarts, and make the most of the resources provided. Most importantly of all, make work satisfaction your number 1 goal. Its the best way to stay happy and get ahead.
Tips,for,Tech-Writers,Tech-wri