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Subject:Re: How to I get into this field? From:"Chris Morton" <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:26:51 -0700
You should also acquaint yourself with several style guides, these being the
*Chicago Manual of Style*, *Read Me First* (Sun Microsystems), and the
*Microsoft
Style Guide for Technical Writers*. You should already own a copy of Strunk
& White's *Elements of Style*.
Have a colldection of manuals tob reference: how were *they* constructed?
Which conventions did *they* use?
Study the world of typography; know all about typefaces, leading, kerning
and other typesetting finepoints. Visit a commercial printer who works with
Acrobat files to get an education in prepress requirements, etc.
Take a look at oreilly.com to learn what the current buzz topics are.
A familiarity with basic programming logic is helpful, as is a decent
command of Microsoft Visio. Know HTML at a code level, as well as at the
design (GUI) level. Know some JavaScript and where to find some pre-built
code on the Web. Here, Joe Burns' primers are terriffic!
Earlier I mentioned Adobe's *Classroom* series. You can download many of
their apps on a free trial basis while you go through the
corresponding *Classroom
In a Book*, e.g., FrameMaker, DreamWeaver, Illustrator, et al.
It's a given that you need to know your way around M$ Office. In this
regard, surf over to Woody Leonard's site and learn what online respurces
are available there.
If you're a student or educator and can prove it, you can get decent
discounts on books and software at academicsuperstore.com.
Lastly, keep asking questions of this group!
> Chris
On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 6:48 AM, Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> I got my start writing business-related freebies for the local chamber of
> commerce magazine, and a bi-monthly magazine about business in Northern
> Lower Michigan. I then answered an ad lin a monthly CAD magazine; they were
> looking for writers. This could have easily have been a unsolicited inquiry,
> however. I was able to parlay these experiences into many more
> opportunities, the culmination of which (from a prestige standpoint, anyway)
> was a 3-1/2 year stay at Hewlett-Packard.
>
> Incidentally, I have NO degree, though I had superior English teachers in
> both the elementary and secondary schools I attended. I do have some
> college, having taking a few computer and business administration courses.
> Continuing to take computer courses is always a good thing, whether it be at
> a community college, self-paced Adobe *Classroom in a Book* training, or
> whatever. The more you can list on your resume in the way of things like
> XML, HTML, J2EE, Flash, etc., the more you'll find coming your way.
>
> Join the Society of Technical Communications and use their job board. Get a
> LinkedIn profile with professional endorsements, diligently building and
> making use of your LinkedIn network to find gigs. And if not gigs, use it to
> locate recruiters in your area, then solicit those recruiters for gigs. Get
> hooked up with Dice.com.
>
> Those are but a few ideas to get you started.
>
> > Chris
>
> On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 4:10 AM, Michael West <mbwest -at- bigpond -dot- com>wrote:
>
>> > I have a BA in English and would like to get into technical writing but
>> need to know
>> > what steps I should take.? What is required?
>>
>> You'll get plenty of good advice here.
>>
>> What is required, I think, is some interest in technical subjects along
>> with
>> a strong desire to help other people -- those who may not be so
>> technically
>> inclined -- acquire skills and be productive using technology.
>>
>> Add to that a love of strong, clean, simple writing and illustration.
>>
>> The entry-level position is usually the hardest one to get. Don't expect
>> it
>> to just fall into your lap. Do some technical writing projects on your own
>> to show a prospective employer that you have the interest, the skills, and
>> a
>> mastery of the tools. The subject matter isn't terribly important; your
>> attention to detail and your ability to clarify the complex are what
>> matter.
>>
>> Best wishes.
>>
>> --
>> Mike West
>>
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authors, developers, and policy writers. Download a FREE trial. http://www.componentone.com/DocToHelp/
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
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