Industry Profile -- by Natalie Kuperis

Well, the answer to that question is probably not. As anybody who has had the chance to enjoy such literary masterpieces as The Bad Place and The Mouth of Madness knows, while such genius is often imitated, it is never duplicated. Lucky for us, the Koontzs and Kings of the world take care of the literature, leaving the rest of us who enjoy the written word to tackle all sorts of other types of writing. Yes, that's right! You don't have to be a novelist or a newspaper reporter (two of the most competitive occupations) to make a living at writing. Take, for example, the Technical Writing industry. There is currently a technological boom in Calgary. This means that there are new software and hardware inventions and improvements being turned out on almost a monthly basis. And, as we all know, we would be LOST without some help in the form of a user manual. So, TA - DA! Technical Writers to the rescue!

The Industry

Technical Writing is considered to be a growing industry as Calgary's current technological boom is creating a need for people with a specific set of skills. Technical Writers have the technical background to understand the technology, and the written communication skills to enable them to impart that knowledge to others. It involves writing manuals for newly developed software and hardware.

Technical Writing does not have a high turnover rate; people tend to remain in this industry for extremely long periods of time. Most turnover occurs when writers leave one company for another, or in order to work as freelance writers. It seems that most writers are between 30 and 40 years of age. However, this is changing as younger adults are graduating from technical or communication education and discovering that technical writing is indeed a valid career option. One important thing to keep in mind when considering this industry is that it takes time to build a reputation and develop a list of clients for whom to work. Many technical writers, like other writers, must take "moonlighting" jobs to carry them through slow times, especially in the beginning. Writing of any kind takes hard work, perseverance and thick skin. Most novice writers who submit their work are not published; it takes practice to become a good writer. However, finding work in technical writing is easier in that there are currently a lot of opportunities for technical writers. As well, the fact is that technical writing may be an easier writing style to master because there are only so many ways to present factual information clearly. (No place for deep symbolism in this industry!)

The Jobs

There are several different occupations available in this industry, depending on your experience and interests. The following is a list of different career opportunities, a general description of the duties involved, information regarding training requirements, and the experience necessary.

1. Technical Writers - These employees are the most well represented in this industry. Most individuals in this area have some technical training or experience. Most also have training in either technical writing, journalism or communications studies at either the college or university level. They need to have experience in technical writing. It is also an asset to have experience in other types of non-fiction writing (ie., reporting for the school newspaper, etc.) They are responsible for researching, planning and writing technical manuals and other documents for computer or software companies. They can work either for a technical company, for a writing company, or as freelance writers.
2. Editors - Editors typically have spent a number of years as writers, and have formal education at the university level in the area of editing, journalism or communications studies. They edit documents written by technical writing, copywriting and typesetting staff for grammatical, spelling and content mistakes. They are also responsible for giving ongoing support for writers.
3. Copywriters - Copywriters are employed by larger companies and are involved in supporting technical writers by doing research from secondary sources for them. Educational requirements vary depending on the company. Some companies prefer university educated employees, some demand only college level training, and others don't have educational qualification requirements as long as the copywriter is experienced and can produce quality work.
4. Typesetters - Typesetters are normally involved with entering data into an electronic format. (ie., they enter the information into a computer) This is an entry-level position, requiring good typing skills and the ability to work independently.

The following is a chart highlighting occupations, minimum and maximum starting wages, National Occupational Classification codes and general educational requirement. It is important to note that the educational requirements will vary between companies. As well, in the case of freelance writers in particular, it is more important to have experience and the ability to produce quality writing.

What Employers Are Looking For

• First and foremost, employers (and clients) are seeking people with experience. How you can gain that experience is up to you. They look for people who enjoy writing and have written for a number of different audiences (ie., the school paper, short stories for magazines, previous technical writing experience, or writing/communication classes taken in school).
• This industry demands people that are willing to work hard to learn the trade of technical writing as there are always ways to improve ones writing.
• You must be able to persevere in this industry; it isn't easy to convince a client/employer that you have what they need. You need to be able to sell yourself, especially if you choose to freelance rather than work for a writing company.
• Many employers at technical writing companies as well as clients looking for freelance writers want to see that you have some sort of technical training or experience.
• Most importantly, employers and clients want writers that are able to communicate what they know well so that others can understand as well.

To Find Out More...

There are several institutions that now offer technical writing programs. Mount Royal College has just started offering a four-year degree program in this area. As well, the Communications Studies programs at the Universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge may be of interest if you are considering Technical Writing. Finally, many technical writers come out of technical programs at NAIT, SAIT, or other colleges and universities. We would suggest contacting an employment or education counsellor, reading up about the industry, and talking to both freelance writers and writers that work for a technical writing company (found in the yellow pages) to decide if working in this industry would be of interest to you!