A Different Breed

A Different Breed

“Technical writing” is a term that creates ambiguity. A common response I receive when I tell someone that I am a technical writing major is, “Oh… so you write about computers and programming?” Yes, technical writers may write about technology. We certainly have the ability to do so. What gets lost, however, is that we are writers first. We are not limited to writing only about technology. The term “technical” is used, in this instance, to describe the form of writing, not the subject matter. Precision and direction are vital in this form. Unlike creative writing, where the reader is often led in and out of consciousness and reminded of what was or what possibly could be, technical writing tells the audience what is, at the present moment. The subject matter is this and nothing else. The focus is clear, unambiguous.

            The context of my internship lies on both sides of the interpretation of what technical writing actually is. My first task was to increase usability in the By-Laws of a non-profit organization by creating a Table of Contents and making minor changes to the font and spacing to increase readability. Here, technology is used. There are many different programs that can be used to accomplish this task, so technological literacy is a necessity. We, as technical writers, are constantly reminded that the usability of a document is as important as the content. If the user can’t read what is written, the document is of no use. My second task is to revise and update the By-Laws of this organization by referencing both State and Federal Mandates. Writing with technicality and clarity is integral in completing this task. I’m not sure how long this task will take to finish. Specific language must be consistent throughout all documents and all legal concerns in the State and Federal Mandates must be met and stated in the Organization’s By-Laws. The material is very dense, making this task a very time-consuming one. I am playing a versatile role within this internship.

            Many technical writers have multiple hats on the metaphorical shelf. Upon completion of the program at Pittsburg State, I will know how to proficiently use many different programs, including those involving making and editing videos, build websites of different forms, and communicate in Global English. Like technology, we are adaptable. We can be used in many different situations and be successful in each.

A Technical Writer

Let us define technical writing. There are many ways we could go about this. One could look at various documents that fall into the category of technical writing, find common characteristics and describe them. It could be as simple as searching the Merriam-Webster dictionary for the definitions of technical and writing, and then stitching them together, quilting to together a very broad definition of what technical writing is.

It could as simple as writing for technology. Yet, I think that David Dobrin makes a need point when he says that he thought “technical writing was supposed to be clear”. Somehow, something with such a simple definition is anything but this. Early on, Dobrin nails my personal philosophy of technical writing. It must have an objective. Technical writing is not a story about a princess; it is not a poem about spring. It is clear, it is concise, and it is informative.

Carolyn Miller provides accurate definitions of technical writing that supports this in her article “A Humanistic Rationale to Technical Writing”.  She describes the rhetoric of technical writing as clear and scientific. How does this diminish technical writing in the eyes of the humanities? Is it the lack of flowery language, or that our adjectives are straight-forward? It is because to write technically requires a detachment that others find uncomfortable.

I would argue, however that there is skill and grace in the person who can put aside all emotional attachment to what they are writing, and create a document that can be read by many, and give them reliable information. It takes a delicate hand to create various documents of various types, and give information to many people of many different cultures and backgrounds.

The sheer practicality and usefulness of technical writing is overwhelming. I am frequently confronted with the question of what exactly my major is. What do I wish to do with this? What job market will be looking for me?

“I am a jack of all trades for the English department,” I answer enthusiastically, “I can design, write, edit, and create. I know the web, Word, Adobe, and many other programs.”  We are all about professionalism, and about giving the client exactly what he or she needs. We specialize in being both productive and practical. What more could be desired of an employee? As Elizabeth Tebeaux puts it, technical writing teaches students how to write in the workforce.

The value of technical writer is immense. They are well-rounded and professional, they have a skill set unlike any other major. A local business would have two jobs held when hiring a technical writer; they would have a writer and manager; learning the ropes of business while creating all new outlets for the business to excel in, such as websites, brochures, posters, and other forms of media. A technical writer would be more than a marketing strategist or a web master. He or she would be able to handle all kinds of levels of professionalism for the store, creating an ideal, up-to-date work environment.

David Dobrin, "About Technical Writing", Carolyn Miller "A Humanistic Rationale for Technical Writing" and "What's Practical About Technical Writing"  Elizabeth Tebeaux "Let's Not Ruin Technical Writing Too..."

Benefits of Technical/Professional Writing

What is Technical Writing?

Technical writing is a field that struggles to find a precise definition for itself. Though many have tried to create an all-encompassing definition that will cover the entirety of the field all have fallen short in some way or another. The biggest mistake seems to be making too narrow a definition for such an expansive field. Rather than creating a useful definition to describe what a technical writer does, definitions seem to only limit the field to a few, very specific tasks. Technical writers often don many caps and their work may include anything from editing a document to learning how to scuba dive in order to write a manual on the subject.

One definition of technical writing comes from W Earl Britton who claims that technical writing should be communication that has “one meaning and only one meaning” (Allen, The Case Against Defining Technical Writing). However, that is a very limiting definition for such a broad field. A slightly more inclusive definition comes from Dorbin who describes it as “writing that accommodates technology to the user” (What is Technical About Technical Writing?). While Dorbin’s definition is more inclusive than Britton’s it is still very confining and limits technical writing to writing that specifically addresses technology when in reality technical writing can include many diverse topics. Ultimately, to define technical writing is to place it within a box and put restrictions on a very broad subject that inherently crosses between many different fields, knowledge, and skill sets.

The Value of a Technical Writer

A Technical Writer in general can be a valuable asset to any company. Technical Writers are capable of accomplishing a wide number of tasks and often have more to offer than they get recognition for. Technical Writing can include editing documents internally for a company, editing documents to be distributed or displayed to the public, generating any needed documents, writing clear and concise directions or instructions, such as manuals for a product that the company sells or directions for technology and procedures within the office. Technical Writers are also invaluable to companies when it comes to new social media, they can skillfully run a company’s blog, Facebook, or Twitter account and these media outlets can greatly impact a company’s public image. Some Tech Writers are even called upon to run the entire company website! Grant writing is also a huge skill that Technical Writers have. A convincingly written argument for grant money is an extremely valuable asset for any company, but especially those who are primarily funded by grants.

The CEA Forum specifically benefits from having a Tech Writer because they have so much of their content online. Technical Writers excel at using technology such as the Internet, websites, content management systems, etc. and The CEA Forum is an ideal combination of this type of technology and the other half of Technical Writing, the writing. The CEA Forum collects submissions from authors and reviews their writing; editing and written communication skills are a must for this to happen effectively. Back to the technology part of Technical Writing the articles are then published online. This is all one seamless process for someone skilled in current technology, English, rhetoric, editing, and document design.

Don’t Underestimate the Humanities

Though the disciplines within the Humanities category are frequently overlooked as “artistic” more than “practical” they are still relevant subjects and worth consideration. Studying humanities, particularly “regular English” studies with emphasis on literature and a style of writing that favors eloquence over preciseness, these studies can still equip potential employees with the ability to relate to and understand their audience. This ability can be very important, especially if the goal is advertisement or persuasion. With any type of marketing knowing and relating to the audience is key. Social media is another area where training in the Humanities is advantageous. Social media is all about speaking in the same language as the audience, otherwise the message is foreign and an “outsider” from the group. Messages that do not cohere to the correct language and format lack credibility and are ignored or mocked. Elizabeth Tebeaux claims “Literature, the stronghold of enculturation, can teach students a great deal about human nature and communal values. Clearly, students need as much knowledge about the human personality and community as possible when they consider the problems of audience, the concept that lies at the foundation of technical writing” (“Let’s Not Ruin Technical Writing Too”). People knowledgeable about the Humanities can be just as valuable to a company as a Technical Writer, and Accountant, or a manager. Those who study the Humanities can have practical applications as well as the conceptual ones they are well known for and one of their strongest abilities is knowing the audience they are communicating with and understanding how to expertly use the medium, language, and culture they are in.

Sources

Allen, Jo. "The Case Against Defining Technical Writing."

Dorbin, David. "What is Technical About Technical Writing?" 

Tebeaux, Elizabeth. "Let's Not Ruin Technical Writing, Too: A Comment on the Essays of Carolyn Miller and Elizabeth Harris."