Technical Writing Skills: A Question of Aptitude or Interest?

Abstract

Employers must frequently choose between hiring a professional writer or a technician to communicate high technology to the lay public. The professional writer may well be the better choice. Writers can develop their technical writing skills to meet this challenge by practicing Technical Communication Competency, by standardizing technical objectives, by learning to write readable and interesting technical documents, and by requesting diagrams that clearly show functions and relationships. At the same time, writers must keep up with the rapid changes in technology if they want to continue providing a valuable link between the lay public and this technology.