To succeed in technical writing, you need a lot more than just writing ability. Technical Writing 101 details the skills you need as a technical writer, and it explains how to handle the pressures of tight deadlines and ever-changing product specifications. This valuable reference also describes the entire documentation process—planning, writing, editing, indexing, and production. You'll appreciate the tips on getting a job as a technical writer, whether you’re considering technical writing as your first job or as a career change.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From the Author
Have you ever thought:
"Hey, I'm a good writer, and tech writing seems to pay well. I wonder if that career would make sense for me?"
If so, this is the book for you. Technical Writing 101 is a concise handbook that describes what it really takes to make it as a technical writer.
Technical Writing 101 explains that in addition to writing ability, technical writers also need a grasp of technical subjects (and be willing to learn about them), planning and organizational skills, and the ability to extract information from sources, which often means coaxing information from harried product developers. Tact, diplomacy, persistence, and a good sense of humor are essential, especially when dealing with ever-changing product specifications and deadlines.
If you're working toward a degree in technical writing, this book is a great complement to your more theoretical classes. Studying topics such as audience analysis gives you a valuable foundation, but this book tells you how to get a job done on a shoestring budget. Small budgets and aggressive deadlines are a way of life in small companies, where many technical writers work.
Prospective technical writers will also find tips on how to sharpen writing skills and on how to find that first job.
Technical Writing 101 explains all the things we wish somebody had told us during our first few years in the industry—all the little secrets that you learn the hard way.
About the Author
Sarah S. O’Keefe is founder and president of Scriptorium Publishing Services, Inc., which provides technical documentation services to high-tech companies, including everything from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Sarah is an Adobe Certified Expert in FrameMaker and certified WebWorks Publisher trainer. Her background includes technical writing, technical editing, production editing, and extensive online help development with various help authoring tools. Sarah is the author of FrameMaker for Dummies. She currently works as a consultant to assist companies in implementing single-sourcing systems and other publishing solutions.
Alan S. Pringle is lead technical editor at Scriptorium Publishing Services. Since 1990, he has worked as a technical writer and editor on projects ranging from writing user guides for laser printers to editing course material for telecommunications equipment. Alan has also established corporate style guidelines and completed large HTML conversion projects.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
For newbies and gurus alike!,
This review is from: Technical Writing 101 : A Real-World Guide to Planning and Writing Technical Documentation (Paperback)
Alan Pringle and Sarah O'Keefe have provided an excellent introduction to the field of technical writing. For those just starting out in the field, you'll understand precisely what you will face. For those who have been around awhile, you'll find nuggets of inspiration and true-to-life humor that will help you face another day. As a tried and true technical writer, I found the chapters on "Getting Information," "Editors -- Resistance is Futile," and "Indexing" to be excellent explanations of key parts of the technical writing process. Technical Writing 101 is well-written, summarizes the technical writing process with appropriate technical detail, and is enjoyable to read! You can't go wrong with a text like this!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, real-world advice,
By A Customer
This review is from: Technical Writing 101 : A Real-World Guide to Planning and Writing Technical Documentation (Paperback)
So many books on "technical writing" discuss project management that just doesn't happen in the real world. Often throughout my 15-year career as a technical communicator, I've encountered individuals with English or Journalism degrees who hadn't the first idea about what technical writing (really) involves. This book provides an excellent, realistic overview of the profession and its (very important) components -- aside from a degree -- and being a writer of sorts (fiction, for example) -- and the kind of aptitude and skill set it takes to do the job right (and love it).
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The book's title & focus is clear, concise and unambiguous.,
By Dave Harrity (Severn, MD USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Technical Writing 101 : A Real-World Guide to Planning and Writing Technical Documentation (Paperback)
A concise guide for beginning (and experienced) technical writers. After reading this book, I would love to recommend it to anyone who hires, teaches or works with technical writers and associated professions. The book provides an excellent introduction into the world of technical writing and why its more than just writing. Editing, graphics, indexing, usability, project management and organizational skills, presentation and interviewing skills are just some of the skills needed as a technical writer and are these are well covered in this book. Especially noteworthy is the chapter on localization (L10N) and internationalization (I18N). The only drawbacks to the book is its reliance on using examples from software documentation and use of Adobe FrameMaker. I would have to disagree with the authors statement that technical writing for software accounts for 85% of all technical writing. Although it is surely more than 50%, no references are made to technical writing in fields such as manufacturing, machinery operation and maintenance, tools, appliances. That being said, if you're a technical writer or want to become one, this book is for you. If you're not a technical writer, but work with one or may hire one, then I highly suggest this book to find out what technical writing is about and how a good technical writer can add value to your company or organization. As stated in its subtitle, it is truly a "real world guide to planning and writing technical documentation".
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
