The art of technical writing began way back in the Second World War period and experienced rapid growth during the Industrial Revolution when the growth of industrial products and services ignited the demand for technical products. In recent years, technical writing has become a prominent and highly demanded department in almost every industry and corporation, with many individuals learning how to start technical writing.
In this article, you will get to see what technical writing is all about, its importance, and how to get started with your technical writing journey
What Is Technical Writing?
Technical writing is an emerging field that has been growing for quite some time now. Throughout the centuries, technical writing has been serving as a bridge between people, who create technology and people who use technology.
A more traditional definition of technical writing is “the practice of articulating any product or service in the form of the document where processes are defined, such as software manuals or instructional materials”.
As a technical writer, documents and articles are required to be written to make companies’ or individuals’ products, such as new technologies and services, easily understood and used by the intended audience or consumer. In order to do that, complex technical information is required to be presented in a clear and simple manner.
Type of materials produced in technical writing
When learning how to start technical writing, you will come across these different examples of the various types of technical documents;
- API Docs
- User Manuals
- E-learning content
- Software installation guides
- Product specifications
- Product descriptions
- Press releases
- Business proposals
- Job descriptions
- Textbooks
- Company documents
- Standard Operating Procedures
- White papers
- Case studies
- Technical proposals
- Technical report
- Technical Manual
- Business plan
- Policy and Procedure Documents
- Technical blogs
- Scientific Research Papers
- Online Help Systems
- Knowledge Base Articles
- Medical Writing
- Interactive e-Learning Materials
Technical Writing Vs Other Forms of Writing
Other Forms of Writing
Other forms of writing exist alongside technical writing, some may seem similar to technical writing while others are a field on their own. Here are some other types of writing that contrast with technical writing:
Creative writing entertains, evokes emotions, and expresses personal thoughts and feelings. It targets a general audience or specific readers interested in fiction, poetry, or drama. Creative writers often use figurative language, symbolism, and other literary devices to create vivid imagery and emotional impact.
Persuasive writing convinces readers to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. Persuasive writers employ strong arguments, evidence, and rhetorical techniques to persuade the reader.
Narrative writing tells stories, recounts events, and describes experiences. It targets a general audience or a specific target audience. Narrative writers use storytelling techniques, character development, and plot structure to engage the reader.
Expository writing explains, informs, or describes a topic. Expository writers use clear and concise language to present information in a logical and organized manner.
Journalistic Writing focuses on accurately and objectively informing the public about current events, emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and adherence to ethical principles such as fairness and truthfulness, typically seen in news articles, feature stories, and investigative reports.
Academic Writing focuses on conveying complex ideas and research findings in a formal and precise manner. It’s characterized by a formal tone, a clear structure, and the use of evidence and citations to support arguments.
Content Writing aims to create engaging and informative content that attracts and retains an audience. It’s often used for marketing or educational purposes, emphasizing audience appeal, persuasive language, and search engine optimization (SEO).
Business Writing focuses on effective communication within a professional setting, such as in emails, memos, reports, and proposals. It prioritizes clarity, conciseness, professionalism, and a focus on achieving specific business goals.
You can read more about other types of writing here: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/types-of-writing-styles
What Makes Technical Writing Different From Other Types Of Writing?
When looking at how to start technical writing, it is important to know the difference between technical writing and other forms of Writing to have a clear cut of what technical writing is not. Even though technical writing is similar to other writings, Technical writing has some characteristics pertinent to itself that make it stand out from different types of writing, these characteristics include;
| Characteristics | Technical Writing | Other forms of writing |
| Purpose | It informs, instructs, or explains something to a specific group of readers. And also provide practical solutions to specific problems. | Depending on the writing type, it may aim to entertain, persuade, or express personal opinions |
| Audience | Depending on the type of technical article, technical writing can address a specific group of audience: e.g., employees, managers, executives, clients, the general public, funding bodies, students, and entities with legal authority | Addresses a more open group of people. |
| Style | Technical writing requires clear, concise, and objective language that avoids ambiguity, jargon, slang, and unnecessary words. It also follows a consistent and logical style that organizes the information in a coherent and accessible way. It is usually based on a formal way of writing. The voice used in technical writing is usually 3rd person. | General writing is based on personal style. |
| Tone | Technical writing necessitates an objective tone, prioritizing factual accuracy and clarity over personal opinions or subjective interpretations. | General writing is based on a subjective tone. |
| Structure | Technical writing adheres to a structured format, employing consistent organizational elements such as clear headings and subheadings, logical flow, consistent formatting, and the strategic use of lists, tables, and visual aids to enhance readability and effectively guide the reader through the information. | It follows an artistic unstructured format. |
| Format/Design | Technical writing follows specific standards and conventions that vary depending on the field, the type of document, and the purpose. Technical writing also uses a consistent and appropriate format and design that enhances the readability and usability of the document. |
Why Should You Write Technical Articles?
Learning
- Share knowledge and expertise: You can disseminate valuable information to a wider audience, helping others learn and grow.
- Establish credibility: By demonstrating your knowledge and skills through well-written articles, you can build your reputation as a subject matter expert.
- Network with others: Sharing your work can connect you with other professionals in your field, leading to potential collaborations and opportunities.
- Improve your writing skills: The process of writing and editing technical articles can enhance your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.
- Contribute to the field: By sharing your insights and research, you can help advance the knowledge and understanding of your industry.
Key Elements of Technical Writing
Knowing how to start technical writing requires you to know the key elements of Technical writing, which enables you to have a clear knowledge of what to consider when writing. Some of these Key elements include;
Clarity and Conciseness demand that technical writers employ precise language while avoiding jargon, ensuring they get to the point quickly and efficiently.
Accuracy and Objectivity require technical writers to present information accurately and without bias, focusing on facts and evidence rather than personal opinions.
Audience Awareness necessitates tailoring the writing style and complexity to the specific needs and knowledge level of the target audience.
Strong Structure and Organization involve using headings, subheadings, lists, and visuals to improve readability and guide the reader while presenting information in a logical and easy-to-follow order.
Consistent Formatting demands maintaining consistent style, font, and formatting throughout the document for professional presentation.
Logical Structure ensures information flows seamlessly, with clear connections between ideas and a coherent narrative that makes sense to the reader. This involves arranging content in a way that builds understanding, whether chronologically, spatially, or by order of importance.
Visual Aids enhance comprehension and engagement by presenting data and information graphically. Charts, graphs, images, and other visuals should be used strategically to clarify complex concepts, summarize key findings, and break up large blocks of text.
Usability focuses on making the document easy to navigate and use. This includes clear labeling of sections, a detailed table of contents (if appropriate), and an intuitive design that allows readers to quickly find the information they need.
Tone and Style should be appropriate for the intended audience and purpose. The writing should be clear, concise, and engaging while maintaining a professional and respectful tone. Avoid jargon or overly technical language unless the audience is specialized.
Revision and Proofreading are essential for catching errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. A thorough review ensures accuracy and strengthens the overall credibility of the document.
Technical Writing Process
General Steps To Get Started With Technical Writing
Thinking of how to start technical writing can be overwhelming at first, but knowing and following the steps in the technical writing process can make the technical writing journey easier;
- Planning and Research
- Define the type of technical content you want to write about.
- Define your topic: Clearly outline the subject matter you’ll be covering.
- Identify your target audience: Determine the technical expertise of your readers, analyse the audience thoroughly by understanding: Who they are, what they need, when they will be reading, and why they might need to read that article.
- Conduct thorough research: Gather accurate information from reliable sources.
- Create an outline: Organize your content into a logical structure.
- Drafting and Revising
- Write clear and concise content: Use simple language and avoid jargon.
- Break down complex information: Divide complex topics into smaller, digestible sections.
- Use visuals: Incorporate diagrams, charts, and screenshots to enhance understanding.
- Proofread carefully: Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
- Seek feedback: Get input from colleagues or subject matter experts.
- Revise and edit: Make necessary changes based on feedback and your own critical review.
- Proofreading, Finalizing, and Publishing
- Double-check for accuracy: Ensure all information is correct and up-to-date.
- Format your document: Use clear headings, subheadings, and formatting to improve readability.
- Choose a suitable publishing platform: Select a platform that aligns with your target audience and content.
- Publish your work: Share your technical writing with the world.
- Continuous Feedback and Document Update
- Monitor user feedback: Pay attention to comments and suggestions.
- Update your documentation: Make necessary changes to keep it accurate and relevant.
- Adapt to changing technology: Stay updated with the latest industry trends.
- Review and revise regularly: Ensure your documentation remains clear and effective.
Steps in Writing a Blog Post
For example, let us say you are thinking of how to start Technical Writing by writing a blog post, you could use the following steps:
1. Planning & Research
Choose a Topic: When planning to write a blog post, you have a pick a suitable and captivating topic. For example, let’s say you were planning on writing an article about the practices involved in writing clean code. You could choose the topic to be “10 Best Practices for Writing Clean Code”.
- Define Your Audience: Next, you have to define your target audience, a more general audience will be all those who code, but you will want to target specifically people who code already, people who are looking to improve their coding style and maintainability. Then consider the audience’s expertise. Most people who code already will easily understand more advanced words and terms in programming so breaking down these words won’t be necessary.
- Conduct Research: You will have to carry a thorough research on the practices involved in carrying out research such as reading articles on code style guides, best practices from reputable sources (e.g., Google’s style guide, Robert C. Martin’s “Clean Code”), and explore popular coding platforms (GitHub) for real-world examples.
- Create an Outline: A simple outline could be;
- Introduction: You briefly introduce the concept of clean code and its importance.
- Body: You could divide into various sections such as;
- Section 1: Meaningful Names (variables, functions, classes)
- Section 2: Functions: Keep them small and focused.
- Section 3: Comments: When and how to use them effectively.
- Section 4: Formatting: Indentation, spacing, and other visual cues.
- Conclusion: Summarize key takeaways and encourage further learning.
2. Writing the Draft
- Write the First Draft: You can focus on conveying the information clearly and concisely for example, Meaningful names are crucial for code readability. Avoid single-letter variables (e.g., ‘x’) and use descriptive names that reflect the variable’s purpose (e.g., ‘customerName’, ‘productPrice’).
- Incorporate Visuals: You could include code snippets with and without good formatting to illustrate the difference. Then use a visual diagram to represent the concept of function decomposition.
- Optimize for SEO: When writing, you have to consider ways to make your article easily reachable, so optimizing for SEO by including keywords throughout the post, such as “clean code,” “code readability,” “software development best practices,” and “coding style” is a plus.
3. Revising & Editing
- Review for Clarity and Conciseness: Let’s say you were going through the work and came across the sentence “Instead of ‘The function should be short’ you wrote, you could then rewrite it to sound better by writing: ‘Functions should ideally be short and focused on a single task.'”
- Edit for Grammar and Spelling: Here you could use a grammar checker tool such as Grammarly to carefully proofread for any errors.
- Obtain Feedback: Sharing your work with someone else like a developer or another writer, to read and give feedback is important, as you might omit some errors when checking.
4. Proofreading: Carefully read the entire post one last time to catch any missed errors.
5. Publishing and Promotion: Publish on your company blog, a personal website, or a platform like Medium. Then share the post on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter), in relevant online communities (e.g., Reddit’s r/programming), and in your email signature.
So far we have looked at the basics of technical writing, which included what technical writing is, what makes it different from other forms of writing, and the processes involved in technical writing, which are all important and necessary when answering the question of how to start with technical writing.
In Part 2: The Art of Technical Writing: Technical Writing for Beginners, you will get to see more about Technical writing in the light of what you can actually use in writing, and how to make your content reach a larger audience, you will also get to read about the best practices to know as a beginner in technical writing.
