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Language Vs. Technical Skills – What’s Your Take in Technical Writing?
- July 8, 2012
- Posted by: Rahul Karn
- Category: guest words Technical writing
Sasmita Panda wrote this guest post.She is a seasoned Information Developer, Content writer, and blogger. I invited her to share her experience on the primary skills required by information developers and she come up with a well knit blog for you. Read more blogs of Sasmita on TWIN
What are the qualities of a good technical writer? Mastering over the language or strong technical skills? The debate is constantly on. As per my experience, language is important, but it’s your acumen in technical skills which will take you higher in the long run.
Strong writing skills along with deeper technical knowledge are always considered as added advantage. Understanding a product/application and documenting about it is what every technical writer does, but knowing about how to structure and present the information to various types of end-users is definitely a valuable skill.
There are technical writers who are good in writing skills but poor in technical skills and vice verse. You can always work on the skills you lack, but I believe that honing technical skills takes longer time as compared to the writing skills. You don’t have to stupendous in your writing skills to be a good technical writer, but expertise in technical skills is a must especially if you want to grow in your career as a technical writer.
Proficiency in technical skills has a growing demand in many industries these days. Knowledge of DITA, API Documentation or software programming can fetch you a better package than many of your experienced peers. So if you want to grow and make money as a technical writer, the choice is obvious- sharpen your technical skills.
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Please take out few minutes to write your view on Language Vs Technical Skills.
Agreed Sasmita, as a writer it is expected that you will have basic understanding of language and that is enough to write logically. It is tech skills which can take you to new horizons.
Well Saurabh, it's been my experience that the definition of 'simple language' differs drastically from person to person.
I'd want a language expert with a technical bent of mind as a Technical Writer, rather than the other way around. People who love writing and have a passion for technology and keeping abreast with the latest cutting edge stuff are mostly the best Technical Communicators around, IMHO.