According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, technical writers “prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily.” Although this definition and the other information in the handbook that describes a writer’s role in creating product documentation are correct, I would say they are far from complete.

Not all of the content written by technical writers is technical or involves commercial products. In fact, my first job was to create human resources content for a medical imaging company. My responsibilities included creating online forms, updating company policies, and writing internal communications.

With that in mind, perhaps a better definition of a technical writer is a person that focuses on creating content for a variety of purposes that is accessible and understandable for the audience consuming it. This means breaking down content into manageable chunks and using clear and concise language, avoiding jargon, and providing enough detail to ensure that readers can follow along.

What Can Technical Writers Do Besides Write Technical Manuals?

Over the years, the role of the technical writer has expanded to include more than just producing technical manuals. With a writer’s knowledge of how to create clear and accurate documentation, they can be beneficial in producing all sorts of content such as website copy, online help systems, and video tutorials. The following sections provide just a few examples of what a writer can do besides write technical manuals.

Video Script Writing and Creation

Video script writing is one way that writers can put their skills to use. It requires the ability to distill complex information into the most important points so that it can be communicated clearly and concisely to the user. For live video productions, scriptwriters must demonstrate their understanding of video production and an awareness of what will (and won’t) work well on screen. For screencast videos, writers can take on all parts of the production, including video recording and animation.

Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is the process of using online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share engaging content to build relationships with current and potential customers. With the importance on writing engaging content, it’s no wonder that social media marketing is a popular career choice for technical writers. Writers are able to use their skills to help to build brand awareness, generate leads, and boost sales.

Business Analyst

A business analyst is a person who is responsible for interpreting business processes and defining and documenting new business requirements. Many individuals who work in a business analyst role have a background in writing. This makes sense since both roles involve being able to research and understand new concepts quickly as well as being able to communicate complex information in a focused and precise manner.

What are Other Names for Technical Writers?

Technical writers can have many different titles. In some cases, these titles are more generalized terms to take the focus away from the traditional practice of writing technical manuals. In other cases, they represent a specialized technical writing role. Here are just a few titles that you might see to describe writing roles:

• Technical Communicators
• Communications Specialists
• Information Developers
• Copywriters
• Content Strategist
• Information Architects

Does Your Organization Need a Technical Writer?

How do you know if your organization needs a technical writer? If you have any written communications needs whatsoever, the answer is most likely yes. Technical writers are not just for writing manuals. They can write anything from business proposals to marketing collateral, video scripts, and social media posts. They can also develop information architecture and design user interfaces. Whether you need to create communications that are technical or not technical or for internal or external consumption, a technical writer can help.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Technical Writers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/technical-writers.htm (visited July 02, 2022)