RE: How to I get into this field?

["Cardimon, Craig" <ccardimon -at- M-S-G -dot- com>]

> 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?

Hi, Kerry,

If you have a job already, I would advise you to offer to write
documentation there. Ask your manager. Approach the managers of other
departments and volunteer to write documentation for them. They will
love you for asking for work. If they ask you for samples, have some. 

The simplest way to quickly put together a tiny portfolio is to write
procedures for things you know how to do. Create documentation for "How
to Add a Printer" to a computer in your company. Write documentation for
"How to Add a Bookmark in Firefox and a Favorite in IE." 

This might sound overly simplistic, but this is exactly what I did, some
time ago! And yes, my simple samples had the desired result. They helped
get my foot in the door.

If you have more questions, email me at home at
Cardimon720-AT-yahoo-DOT-com. I will do my best to help. By the way, I
deliberately messed up my email to try to foil robot email harvesters.
I'm sure a budding tech writer such as yourself can figure it out!

Craig

 


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