Comments on: Is technical writing boring? http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Wed, 23 May 2012 23:32:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: magic article rewriter review http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-148991 magic article rewriter review Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:55:41 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-148991 The most effective method to leverage your article marketing efforts is to use an article spinning and submitter tool so you can submit lots of articles rapidly. If you submit to more article directories, you will gain more traffic, and unquestionably will facilitate you to generate high quality backlinks fast. The most effective method to leverage your article marketing efforts is to use an article spinning and submitter tool so you can submit lots of articles rapidly. If you submit to more article directories, you will gain more traffic, and unquestionably will facilitate you to generate high quality backlinks fast.

]]> By: Dave http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-147075 Dave Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:06:54 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-147075 Might just take you up on that, once I convince myself it makes sense..... I assume that by your response you have encountered other technical people that have made such a transition? Also, how do you think an older person (50's) would be perceived entering into this field? In other words, is this considered to be a "young person's field" like IT now is becoming? Might just take you up on that, once I convince myself it makes sense….. I assume that by your response you have encountered other technical people that have made such a transition? Also, how do you think an older person (50′s) would be perceived entering into this field? In other words, is this considered to be a “young person’s field” like IT now is becoming?

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-147057 Tom Johnson Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:37:10 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-147057 It's an advantage, definitely, esp. if you are writing about the same subject that you have expertise in. By the way, this type of career move has always intrigued me. Would you like to write a guest post explaining why an engineer would like to become a technical writer? It’s an advantage, definitely, esp. if you are writing about the same subject that you have expertise in.

By the way, this type of career move has always intrigued me. Would you like to write a guest post explaining why an engineer would like to become a technical writer?

]]> By: Dave http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-147020 Dave Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:41:10 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-147020 Tom, As I am very seriously contemplating a mid-life career change, I've been reading your blog posts and other readers great questions, and was hoping to get your comments on one important question. Is it an advantage or disadvantage to enter the Technical Communications field with an existing analytical engineering background? I have been in the "technology" field for about 30 years, and am looking at the Technical Communications field as a new career. As an engineer, I have written thousands of technical reports over the last 30 years, but now want to focus more on writing. I have already applied to a local university to begin classes for a Technical Communications Major. I am fully aware of the salary differences. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide. Tom, As I am very seriously contemplating a mid-life career change, I’ve been reading your blog posts and other readers great questions, and was hoping to get your comments on one important question. Is it an advantage or disadvantage to enter the Technical Communications field with an existing analytical engineering background? I have been in the “technology” field for about 30 years, and am looking at the Technical Communications field as a new career. As an engineer, I have written thousands of technical reports over the last 30 years, but now want to focus more on writing. I have already applied to a local university to begin classes for a Technical Communications Major. I am fully aware of the salary differences. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-146982 Tom Johnson Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:34:52 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-146982 Look at the jobs you want to apply for, and note the software required. I no longer advocate any specific help authoring tools. I think wikis are the trend right now, but many companies haven't caught on. You could learn Flare, RoboHelp, Frame, Author-It, Mediawiki, Confluence, and so on. See my post on <a href="http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2009/09/22/how-to-get-a-job-in-technical-writing-a-7-step-guide-for-students/" rel="nofollow">7 Steps to Getting a Job in Technical Writing</a> for more on tools. Look at the jobs you want to apply for, and note the software required. I no longer advocate any specific help authoring tools. I think wikis are the trend right now, but many companies haven’t caught on. You could learn Flare, RoboHelp, Frame, Author-It, Mediawiki, Confluence, and so on. See my post on 7 Steps to Getting a Job in Technical Writing for more on tools.

]]> By: Lori http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-146981 Lori Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:29:26 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-146981 Thanks, Tom. To be honest, I am not so much interested in writing for software manuals. More like user manuals for blackberries, VCRs, etc. I am the type that likes to figure things out on my own, including software applications. Which ones would you say are usually required? RoboHelp, FrameMaker? What are the opportunties like in the US right now? What cities seem to have the most work? Eventually I do want to freelance. Lori Thanks, Tom. To be honest, I am not so much interested in writing for software manuals. More like user manuals for blackberries, VCRs, etc. I am the type that likes to figure things out on my own, including software applications. Which ones would you say are usually required? RoboHelp, FrameMaker?

What are the opportunties like in the US right now? What cities seem to have the most work? Eventually I do want to freelance.

Lori

]]> By: Tom Johnson http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-146979 Tom Johnson Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:22:27 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-146979 I think you acquire technical skills with experience. But you don't need to be a programmer -- just someone who can learn lots of different software applications without getting frustrated all the time, esp. when things don't work. I think you acquire technical skills with experience. But you don’t need to be a programmer — just someone who can learn lots of different software applications without getting frustrated all the time, esp. when things don’t work.

]]> By: Lori http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-146977 Lori Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:56:36 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-146977 I am curious how techie one needs to be to be a technical writer. I two have a degree in Creative Writing. I am curious how techie one needs to be to be a technical writer.

I two have a degree in Creative Writing.

]]> By: Levi Michael http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-139702 Levi Michael Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:09:37 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-139702 Save your Vizio! I had a Vizio VX37L that blew it's main board. I felt as if I had just flushed $450 down the drain. It just stopped powering up. Not even the Vizio logo would light up. Fortunately, I read that replacing the <a>Vizio Main Board (part # 0171-2272-2174)</a> normally fixed the problem. It's been over 6 months, and my <a>Vizio VX37L HDTV10A</a> is still working like a champ. These TVs are all modular inside. You can normally just replace a bad board yourself. I fixed mine in about an hour and a half. Save your Vizio! I had a Vizio VX37L that blew it’s main board. I felt as if I had just flushed $450 down the drain. It just stopped powering up. Not even the Vizio logo would light up. Fortunately, I read that replacing the Vizio Main Board (part # 0171-2272-2174) normally fixed the problem. It’s been over 6 months, and my Vizio VX37L HDTV10A is still working like a champ. These TVs are all modular inside. You can normally just replace a bad board yourself. I fixed mine in about an hour and a half.

]]> By: John http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/comment-page-1/#comment-139574 John Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:07:25 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/02/13/is-technical-writing-boring/#comment-139574 oh btw I love Baldur's gate...I want to be a technical writer at BIOWARE. oh btw I love Baldur’s gate…I want to be a technical writer at BIOWARE.

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