Your Writing Dept Blog

Your Writing Dept Blog is a collection of writings from technical writers who would like to develop dynamic, and hopefully, useful content when not creating technical documentation, user guides and training materials. The blog contains useful tips for how to work with a documentation team, and how to best manage documentation project.

Your Writing Dept (2008). Resources>Documentation>Technical Writing>Blogs

Outsourcing vs. Offshoring, and How U.S.-Based Technical Writers Can Stay Competitive

A reluctance to learn new skills holds you back and complaining about potential employers raising the bar hurts us all.

Your Writing Dept Blog (2009). Careers>Management>Outsourcing>Offshoring

What Are the Characteristics of a Good Technical Writer?

Most writers do not set out to go into this field, but more likely happen into it by chance or by a series of stepping stones that naturally led them down this path. I stated that through nature and nurture, people are formed to become a writer. So, what characteristics make up your average writer?

Guarnera, Tom. Your Writing Dept (2009). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing

Where To Go To Become a Tech Writer or To Find One To Hire?

There are no rules or absolutes in finding a tech writer. For example, I look for the following when hiring a candidate.

Guarnera, Tom. Your Writing Dept (2009). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing

How Do I Become a Technical Writer?

Nobody graduates from high school and says, I want to grow up and become a tech writer.

Guarnera, Tom. Your Writing Dept (2009). Careers>Writing>Technical Writing

What Are the Characteristics of a Good Technical Writer?

Technical writing is the process of taking very technical information and processing it so a larger group of readers can understand. This involves strong writing skills, understanding the technical inputs and a creative way to display this information for the reader.

Guarnera, Tom. Your Writing Dept (2009). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing

Quick Reference Guides Are More Useful Than a 150-Page User Doc 

I’m working on a project to boil a 150-page software user document down to a one-page reference guide that can be tacked to a CSR’s cube wall. Our goal with the one-page reference guide is to give the CSR a description of all the navigation elements and application functionality so they can quickly navigate to where they want to go without first having to trudge through the complete 150-page user doc.

Creel, Ron. Your Writing Dept (2009). Articles>Documentation>Technical Writing>Quick Reference