Technical writing is the art of breaking down complex topics into simple, easy-to-use instructions to help users of a particular product succeed. I’m here to teach you all about that in this comprehensive multi-part guide. But first, who am I?
My name is Adams Adebayo. I have been crafting regular content for five years and technical content for three years. I have worked with several companies to plan, organize, write, and edit various types of technical content. You can check me out on LinkedIn, and I would love to connect with you!
Why?
I’m creating this guide because I have always wanted to make a proper guide to help people become solid technical writers. In 2023, I successfully taught more than 20 beginners about Technical Writing via the ProductHub Africa Training.
This guide has also been reviewed by other technical writing professionals to ensure it’s worth reading.
Who?
If you want to learn how to communicate technical jargon to a non-technical audience in any industry, this guide is for you. Whether you want to share what you know or become a full-time technical writer, I promise you there’s something in this guide for you!
Without further ado, let’s talk technical writing!
What is Technical Writing
Technical writing is a discipline that involves communicating complex information to those who need it to perform a specific task or achieve a particular goal.
As a technical writer, you must take complex information and turn it into easily understandable content for the end user. This content could include Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), knowledge bases, user manuals, documents, product descriptions and specifications, guides, and tutorials.
Let’s see how some technical writers at Google describe the profession below.
Technical writing is more like deleting. You have to eliminate the information getting in the way and help people accomplish what they want. – Matt Werner, Technical Writer at Google
It's someone who takes technical information and converts it into easy-to-understand help content. – Peggy, Technical Writer at Google
Technical writing is about helping people accomplish something without any roadblocks or barriers. – Scott, Technical Writer at Google
In the following sections, let’s explore what you, as a technical writer at some companies, would be responsible for.
Flutterwave
As a technical writer at Flutterwave, you would be responsible for planning, writing, and editing easy-to-understand guides on how to get up and running with Flutterwave products. These may include how-to guides, tutorials, SDKs and plugin documentation, product descriptions, API references, and other technical content.
Youtube
As a technical writer working on the YouTube team at Google, you would be responsible for explaining everything from how developers can build YouTube-powered media players in their apps to how YouTube stores and uses user data on their websites and apps.
VueJS
As a technical writer on the VueJS core team, you would be responsible for explaining all VueJs functionalities in clear and understandable language on the documentation website to enable JavaScript developers of all levels to get started with the framework quickly.
Android
As a technical writer working on the Android team at Google, you would be responsible for explaining everything about Android and its related tools in clear language so that developers and smartphone companies can build fantastic interfaces and functionalities in their apps without issues.
Now that you understand technical writing and what technical writers do, let’s examine the difference between technical and non-technical content.
Difference Between Technical and Non-Technical Content
The following table explains the differences between technical and non-technical content.
| Technical Content | Non-Technical Content |
|---|---|
| Technical writing is primarily informational and instructional. Its goal is to convey complex or specialized information clearly and concisely. | Regular content writing, often called creative or general content writing, serves a broader range of purposes. It can include blog posts, articles, marketing copy, storytelling, and more. |
| Technical writing targets a specific, often niche audience with a specialized background or knowledge in the subject matter. It assumes the reader is seeking detailed information and technical expertise. | Regular content writing caters to a broader and diverse audience. The content may be intended for the general public, including people with varying levels of knowledge on the topic. |
| Technical writing is typically impersonal and devoid of emotion or opinion. Its formal and objective style emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and precision. | Regular content writing allows for a broader range of styles and tones. Depending on the context and purpose, it can be conversational, persuasive, narrative, or descriptive. |
| Technical writing often follows a structured format, such as introductions, methods, results, and conclusions. The content is organized logically, and headings and subheadings facilitate navigation. | The structure of regular content writing can vary significantly depending on the genre and purpose. It may follow a linear narrative, a listicle format, or any other suitable structure that serves the content's goals. |
| Technical Documents include user manuals, product documentation, scientific research papers, engineering reports, medical instructions, and legal contracts, which are examples of technical writing. | Regular content documents include blog posts, news articles, opinion pieces, marketing content, novels, short stories, and creative essays, which fall under regular content writing. |
Now that you understand the difference between technical writing and regular content writing let’s move on to understanding the different types of technical documents in the next section.
Types of Technical Documents
- User Manuals are written to provide comprehensive instructions on how to use a software application. They cover everything from installation to advanced features, troubleshooting, and frequently asked questions.
- Software Design Documents detail the software architecture, including diagrams, data flow charts, component specifications, and interaction diagrams. They help developers understand how to build the software.
- API Documentation explains using and integrating application programming interfaces (APIs). It includes details on endpoints, request/response formats, authentication, and examples of API calls.
- User Guides offer detailed information on software functionality but usually focus on specific aspects or tasks. For example, “How To Build a Network Server … in Python” articles.
- Software Requirements Specification defines the functional and non-functional requirements of a software system. It outlines what the software should do, its limitations, and any dependencies.
- Release Notes and Changelogs provide information about software updates, including new features, bug fixes, and known issues. Release notes focus on the what and why of the changes while changelogs offer a detailed list of changes made between the previous version of the software and the current one.
- Installation Guides are written to ****explain how to install and configure the software on different platforms, including system requirements and prerequisites.
- Whitepapers delve into specific technical topics related to the software or its underlying technologies. They often explore best practices, architectural decisions, or research findings.
- Troubleshooting Guides help users and support teams diagnose and resolve common issues that may arise when using the software. They typically include step-by-step solutions.
- Security Documentation outlines the security measures implemented in the software, including encryption, authentication methods, and recommendations for secure usage.
- System Administration Guides provide information on managing, configuring, and maintaining the software in a network or server environment.
- Project Documentation includes project plans, progress reports, and documentation of decisions made during the software development lifecycle.
The documents mentioned above are some of the most common types of technical papers, and now that you understand what they are, let’s explore some of the tools you would be working with as a technical writer in the next section.
Technical Writing Tools
Every profession or skill has specific tools that the people who work in or practice the skill use, and technical writing is no different. Let’s explore some of the main tools you would need to succeed as a technical writer and what they are used for in the following sections.
| Word Processors: Google Docs is an online word processor that allows for collaborative editing and sharing. | Markup Languages: Markdown is an easy-to-use markup language for formatting elements (such as headings, bulleted lists, and URLs) without using a formal text editor or HTML tags. | Version Control Systems: Git is used for version control and collaboration on documentation repositories, while GitHub is used to collaborate, host, and share documentation repositories with others. |
|---|---|---|
| Content Management Systems: Mintlify is an open-source tool for creating and managing documentation websites and blogs. | Screen Capture and Recording Tools: Snagit captures screenshots and creates screen recordings to illustrate software usage. | Graphics and Diagramming Tools: Lucidchart is an online diagramming tool for creating flowcharts, wireframes, and technical diagrams. |
| Spell and Grammar Checkers: Grammarly checks for grammar and spelling errors in documents and provides suggestions for improving clarity and readability. | Style Guides and Templates: The Microsoft Manual of Style guides technical writing in the Microsoft ecosystem. The Chicago Manual of Style is a general style guide for various types of documentation. |
The tools above are the primary tools you would use in your day-to-day responsibilities as a technical writer. However, every suggestion above is just a suggestion because you can use any other tool not listed above as long as it meets your needs, so feel free to do that.
Conclusion
In this first part of the guide, you have learned about technical writing, the responsibilities of technical writers, and the key differences between technical and non-technical content
You also briefly explored the major types of technical documents and technical writing tools and their uses. The next part of the guide will explore why technical writing is essential and briefly explore the technical writing process.
Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions, corrections, or suggestions. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.
See you in the next one!
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