What do You Really Think of Technical Writers? – Part II

Now that I’m done with the not-so-pleasant task of recounting the not-so-complimentary comments about technical writers, I have a more pleasant task at hand. Here are the compliments we got, technical writers, so hold your head and chin up.

• Product documentation is the face of any organization and there is no scope for error in terms of the quality of the documentation. (That is so true. In fact, just imagine a Log in screen or a Registration screen of a product that has typos or incorrect grammar – would you ever go back to it? A technical writer has a role to play from that first moment that a user interacts with a product. You will agree, it is a huge responsibility.)
  

• If the developer has coded his bit and the QA engineer has tested his bit then the product should work like magic. No? Actually, no. (Thanks for bringing our role into focus with those thoughts. I do like to think of technical writers and user experience (Ux) folks as contributing to more than just the feel good factors of a product. I see our roles as key to making a product work, appeal to common sense, and meet standards of user experience – all in one go.) 
  
• Very few people understand the unique contribution that technical communicators make – they need to understand the product (by talking to the Product Manager, the Developer, and the QA Engineer), test the product, and then convey their understanding to the user in the best possible manner. (Thanks for saying that in as many words. May I add, we need to convey our understanding with as few words as possible too, especially when it comes to language on the user interface?)
  
• Technical writers and usability folks are the invisible glue that keeps everything together. (Wow! Thanks for that image. I never did think of our role on those lines. You give me more than hope – you empower me.) 
  
• Quite a few technical writers are out of touch with technology and this is endearing, it makes us techies feel humane. (Have you ever felt so sheepish and so embarrassed that you wished the earth should swallow you up? I feel like that right now.)
  
• Most technical writers are passionate about something – reading, travel, music, movies, theatre, rock climbing, sports, blogging, baking cakes. It’s nice to be in the company of passionate people. (Can’t stop grinning with pride.)
  
• Technical communicators provide the much needed humane connection to product experience (I’m not sure what exactly that means, but it sounds like a compliment to me, and hence figures in this list.)  
  
• Usually you are an all-girls team. (Good God! I can’t believe that I’m actually putting that down here. I’m just being fair to all of you who responded, you know.)
  
• Technical writers are thorough professionals and are the easiest group to work with. They are clear about what they can deliver and by when, they are equally clear about what they can’t deliver by a certain time and why. They don’t miss deadlines and don’t impose themselves on others. (You just made my day!)
  

There you go, technical writer, tell me this post made your day too!

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Urmilla Chandran
The author is co-founder and Director, Content Development at Steta