atw: Re: OT - a query

Hi Sam - A case can be made for doing a CERT IV in training. Certainly, this
will look very good on a resume, and job placement firms may even be
searching their databases using the term. CERT IV is for anyone who wants to
be - or is asked to be by their employer - a trainer.

Without a doubt editing skills are fantastic to have in your toolkit. A lot
of technical writers develop manuals, for example, based on other documents.
Often these documents are written by business analysts or developers. In
both cases, facility of expression (felicity of phrasing?) can be an issue.

Assuming the reader lacks specialist knowledge can help, especially with
manual writing. As I've mainly written user manuals, this is where my
thoughts are coming from. It's sort of like being a journalist - which is
where my aspirations lie; I'm doing tech writing in the interim while the
income stream switches over - in that you must be an expert (for the
experts) and a newbie (for the reader).

Care taken in details like punctuation and grammar is always a good thing.
So if you're a person who is troubled by double-speak and common grammatical
errors, don't worry. All tech writers suffer often in silence. It's only in
places like this list that they can let go, and voice frustrations at
mundane manglings.

Being comfortable with any kind of software is a tremendous advantage. Most
tech writers will tell you they never attended a training course, but
managed to become expert users. Many will be familiar with publishing
software - the flavour of the month changes over a cycle of about five years
- and they get to know it through hands-on use.

Good luck with your endeavour,

Matthew da Silva   BA (Hons) MMediaPrac (Merit) Syd
m 0434 536 772 | e journo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | w matthewdasilva.com | t
twitter.com/matt_dasilva


-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Samantha Lawry
Sent: Wednesday, 4 November 2009 12:46 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: OT - a query

Hi all,
have been reading all your posts with much interest. I'm interested in
working towards becoming a technical writer but have been a bit confused
about what quals/experience/skills (eg. which applications/programs) might
be required or necessary in order for someone to call themselves a
'technical writer'. I'm not planning on doing so yet! Have done some
research but would be grateful if anyone could point me in the right
direction or offer some simple advice. 

So far I've worked as a lawyer for 7 years, have a Diploma of Arts (Prof
Writing and Ed) from RMIT and have worked as a writer/editor/plain language
drafter in community legal education. Comfortable in MS Word (not so much
macros etc), Excel etc; few other technical skills but not afraid of
anything!

Just tell me if you think I'm shamefully exploiting this list...
Either way, thanks for what I've learnt so far!
Cheers,
Sam


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