---
title: "A Technical Writer with Extra Privileges? Responding to a Question about Roles (Videocast)"
date: 2009-01-15
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# A Technical Writer with Extra Privileges? Responding to a Question about Roles (Videocast)

**Listen here:**

[Audio](https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/idbwmedia.com/podcasts/techwriterwithprivileges.mp3)

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Jim from Iowa writes:

> I was doing some career research involving technical writing and stumbled upon your website. I had a question about that sort of thing, and you seem like a good person to ask. To be frank, I have two main interests--writing and technology. I love to read and write, but I also love engineering, working with computers, etc. So, I guess at this point, one would say technical writing is the logical career choice. Yeah ... but I'm not sure if that would satisfy my tech cravings. I realize you've mentioned things along this line in your previous posts. But let me explain a little further ....
>
> Let's say I get schooling in engineering and, say, English. Would I be able to be a technical writer who also had some extra privileges? And by that I mean helping with the design process, helping with whatever problem is trying to be solved or whatever item is trying to be created, etc. What do you think?
> Thanks,
> Jim

Thanks for submitting your question, Jim. I responded in a videocast below.

[Video: Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/17r-91Qegkw)