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Spoil Yourself with a Career in Technical Writing

By H. Staples
Learning & Life Columnist
September 22, 2006

Despite associations with technical jargon, technical writers are hot. With the right training, they can take their pick of attractive job opportunities, lucrative freelance contracts and six-figure incomes.

Working as a technical writer comes with plenty of perks. The most alluring of these may be the unusually beefy paycheck.

Given Everything

The technical writers who land the big money most often operate as independent contractors. They can pick and choose their hours, dictate their own workload, and operate from any locale. If airfare to Disney World drops, they can pack up the family and grab the next flight. The harder they work, the more they earn. And, since the U.S. is seeing a shortage of technical writers, they're often surrounded by more offers of work than they can take in.

As You Like It

Another indulgence of technical writing: no one expects Shakespeare, so put away that English degree. The field of technical writing needs specialists in engineering, business, computer science and just about any other science or technology subject you might be interested in writing about. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, demand for technical writers remains high because legal, scientific and technological developments and discoveries need translating into language non-specialists can grasp.

Plus, technology disappears faster than a box of chocolates. Somebody has to write those new users' guides, instruction manuals and training materials. Christina Downs, a technical writer for almost ten years, says, "There are so many possibilities, being a technical writer: so many areas to work in, so many different types of writing and subject areas. It's a versatile profession: broad enough to allow for variety, yet specific enough to allow for specialization."

If you demand the most from a career -- maximum mobility, a good salary, and ample prospects -- technical writing could be the one for you.

Sources

• Christina Downs," My Professional Life, Technical Writer"
• U.S. Department of Labor, "Writers and Editors"

About the Author
H.L. Staples teaches at Syracuse University. Her articles have appeared in The Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, The Georgia Review, and elsewhere.

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