Technical writer
A technical writer is a writer who writes about any kind of technology. A technical writer's job is to produce documentation about the technology that is accurate, readable, accessible, and helpful to its intended audience. These writers write about topics in chemistry, aerospace, robotics, consumer electronic products such as VCRs or digital cameras, biotechnology, and computer software and hardware, among many others.
At the beginning of a project, the technical writer first identifies the audience for the documentation. For example, if writing documentation about a VCR, the writer must determine whether the audience is a nontechnical American of average literacy who needs to know how to set the time and tape television shows, or a technician who has to open the VCR's cover and diagnose, repair, or replace internal components.
Technical writers who must write for a technical audience, such as for programmers or electrical engineers, must have enough background to understand their audience's background and needs. For example, writers who develop documentation for software APIs, microcontroller operation, and other technical elements are often paid more than those who write guides for a nontechnical audience (for example, how to use email), because it is difficult to find those experienced in both prose and in the technical subject.
Technical writers often have degrees in English, technical writing, or the technical field for which they are writing, or a combination of these. Documentation that the writer produces is normally proofread for accuracy by an expert in the subject. For example, after a technical writer who understands C++ programming develops documentation for a software product's API, he or she delivers the documentation to the product's development staff to review for technical accuracy.
