How is technical writing different from other types of writing? Writing as such can be viewed from many perspectives. Some write to give expression to their thoughts. Few others write to debate and convince the readers about their ideas, and still few others write just for the sake of art - play with words and language. Well, all these types of writing are definitely creative and commendable. How is this writing different from what a technical writer has to offer?
All the other writers mentioned above more or less express self through their writing. This type of writing ceases to emerge without the display of personality. It is very grand indeed!!!
A technical writer on the other hand starts and ends with the audience in mind. For a technical writer, the success of her/his writing is measured by how easily the reader has understood the subject at hand. This is where 'empathy' and 'self-denial' plays an important role. A technical writer should constantly strive to understand the readers erudition and avoid assumptions throughout any writing project.
Personally, I will view writing for technical communication more as a skill than an art. It is a multi-faceted skill that requires a sharp intelligence to understand complex information, well-organised thought process to arrange information in a meaningful way, empathy to simplify each segment of the information and language to express the information in a lucid and consistent fashion.
No comments:
Post a Comment