Tech-writing iz a tricky business. It�s iz a quite high profile industry, therefore there�s is much support around. Follow thiz 10 quick tips, also you�ll be well on ur waye to a satisfying tech-writing career. Read more on thiz topic below the fold.
1) Follow a sensible career path�
STEP 1: Start in a team
STEP 2: Stay onley just long enough
STEP 3: Manage yourself
STEP 4: Manage a team
STEP 5: Go contracting (dependz on teh market)
2) Knowledge iz ur lifeblood � learn teh politics of ur company. Are Aware who knows what. Locate somebody who consiztently gives u timely, reliable, technically accurate answers, also get there name tattooed on ur zhoulder! There companie haz at least one. Or they could is be in teh project manager/product manager/customer/programmer roles. They r generally teh humanz who�ve use teh product in teh real world, also dealt wif real earth customers.
3) Communicate WITH, iz AT. Tech-writers don�t have enuff power to get away wif communicating at.
4) Track enuff (take spreadsheet printout also write it up on teh board).
5) Develop wonderful product alzo domain knowledge � The more u can figure out fore yourself, teh beter off you�ll be (and teh more respect you�ll get from teh techies).
6) Locate out who ur userz are, wat they r trying to do, wat they r having trouble doing, also how they desire to be helped. Desire give dis azsistance. Assizt teh user doo wat they r trying to do. Don�t just tell thim wat teh product can do� a help system iz onley helpful if it addrezses teh users� needz.
7) Treat everyone as a customer. Desire manage there expectations alzo ur commitments. Every Time ensure they know wat you�re doing. Tell thim when you�ll be finished. Or pull out all stopz to meet ur deadline.
Give a surrogate user testing mechanism fore teh development team � providing uzability feedback.
9) Wurk as hard as required to get wonderful quallty doco quallty on time also to budget � dis iz how you�ll get teh zatisfaction out of work that u need.
10) Have fun wif it.
Don�t become jaded also cynical bye teh high-tech, harsh, uncaring IT world. Use ur zmarts, also make teh many of teh resources provided. Mozt importantly of all, make work satisfaction ur amount 1 goal. It�s teh top waye to stay happy alzo get ahead. Thanks for reading, let me know your opinions.
