TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
This is my first tech writing position, and when I was asked to provide a
writing sample, I gave a paper from a literature class. Even though the
content wasn't technical, it showed my employer that I could write. I am
now in a tech writing certification program, and my writing pedagogy class,
comprised of teachers and tech writers, has been discussing whether their
are really that many differences between technical and academic writing. I
don't think that there are. What are your thoughts on the subject?
I'm a working Documentation Manager, and I always require writing samples.
If someone can't give me sufficient samples, I give them a writing test.
I've been burned too many times.
