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.
Subject:Re: Getting started in tech writing... From:Tracy Boyington <tracy_boyington -at- OKVOTECH -dot- ORG> Date:Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:37:47 -0500
How I became a technical writer (stop me if you've heard this before):
I entered college without any clear career goals, and it showed. I was
interested in too many things, and changed my major three times before I
finally dropped out. After working for a year, I started taking one or
two classes at a time, kind of feeling my way around. I always loved
English classes, but never thought of them as leading to a career
because I had ruled out teaching or journalism. But one day my English
professor asked me to consider switching my major to English -- he felt
my brilliance was wasted on whatever major I had at the time ;-) -- and
asked me to talk to the department advisor. She gave me a flyer (maybe
even an STC flyer) about technical writing. And the skies opened and I
heard a chorus of angels singing, and I knew I had found my calling.
I'm really not even a tech writer right now. My job has morphed into an
instructional developer. And I'm waiting for that chorus of angels to
tell me if I want to pursue this direction further or head back to my
writing roots.
