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..."