Is There Such a Thing as a ‘Young’ Technical Writer?

Yes, there are young tech writers; they just don’t know it yet. I’m 26, which I consider young for this industry. But, I don’t think you should look for people like me to be the upcoming generation. I think the new generation is a more sophisticated group that needs a change and wants more control over their schedule, environment, and income.

The problem seems to be that people look at deliverables (computers, homes, stores, etc.) and say, “I want to do that.” This equates to getting a degree in Computer Science, Construction Management, or Business Management. Honestly, few look at the manual to their vacuum or software and say, “Wow that looks like fun.”

Most of a tech writer’s work is not accessible to the public. There’s no deliverable to enchant a young mind. People in college want an exciting environment with an obvious deliverable. I still do. Many of us fall into the profession because we like to write and we know something. So, if we’re interested in recruiting a new generation we can market our deliverables such that they are interesting and attractive to the public (don’t ask me how you do that, sounds tough).

Or, we market our deliverables to the professionals that already ‘know something’ and want to tell people what that ’something’ is or make that ’something’ easier to use.

I’m sure I’ve over-simplified this, but I think it’s a valid theory explaining why Tech Writers, in general, are not pouring out of colleges across the country. So, to answer the question, “Is there a new generation of Tech Writer?” Yes, they just don’t look like the kids on campus. They look more like the professional walking down the street that’s ready to get out of their current position where they never see the deliverable because they’re six or seven levels down the food chain entering TPS reports into SharePoint.

My dad, a developer for 27 years, just lost his job. I told him to start looking for Tech Writing jobs. He writes clearly and thinks like a developer. Sure he’d have to learn some tools, but he’s spent his whole career learning things, he can learn another. I think he’s the new generation. Anybody want his resume?

Technology Vertigo

I’m enrolled in the Instructional and Performance Technology program at Boise State University. A couple days ago we were asked to interview people and ask them what the term technology means to them. One of the respondents mentioned that technology is chaos. Of course, by definition, technology is the scientific method and material used to achieve a commercial or industrial objective (American Heritage Dictionary). So I thought the statement was interesting.

Disparate systems are chaotic; but I wonder if people get lost in hard technology because they’re often systems within a system (ad infinitum). And, to make it worse, there are a lot of disjointed systems developed in hard (computers, software included) and soft (process, human systems) technology. I believe the fear of technology stems from a type of technology vertigo. People get lost, can’t orient themselves, and the system takes the appearance of chaos because there is information overload (too many buttons on the screen, no obvious work-flow, etc.).

I believe good design and instruction is important because it removes some of the chaos. If you looked at a busy restaurant, it may appear chaotic (and sometimes is), but beyond the chaos is usually a very precise system. Greeters greet, cooks cook, servers serve, and busers… ah, bus (or clean up the table). If everything goes right, you get the food you order delivered hot, quick, and you can leave when you’re ready. And when you’re done, the table is cleared so that the next party can sit down. Good system, even in chaos. You only notice a problem when things go wrong. Slow service, cold food, and empty tables that are dirty, etc. We only notice the chaos.

Which Super Hero are you?

Well, you learn a new thing every day… I, for one, am Green Latern.

You are Green Lantern

Green Lantern 80% The Flash 75% Superman 70% Spider-Man 65% Hulk 60% Robin 58% Supergirl 53% Iron Man 50% Catwoman 45% Wonder Woman 38% Batman 25%

Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

I think you can learn a lot about a person from what they thing they are and what they want to be, don’t you?

End of the Beginning

It’s the end of the year and it’s time for appraisals and goals.  I saw a lot of success this year, which is nice to look back on.  I printed the first manual for the company, made a couple videos, helped a lot of people, turned the manual into a decent web-site and tried to help a new product get off to a good start by helping with the design and work-flow effort. Now, there’s the hard part-goals.  Not that goals are difficult by themselves.  I have a lot of things that should and need to be done.  It’s that I realize a top-down initiative is much easier to work with than a bottom-up plan & proposal process.  Thankfully there are a lot of other departments that see the need for improved documentation and training, which are the areas I believe I can help most with.  Here’s where the problem is… although I’m aware of their goals and I know they will come to me to help with them, does that make it my goal? I know Client Support will come to me the first week of next year asking for manuals to WX, CX, and eventually SX.  This is great!  It’s what needs to happen, but is it my goal?  I guess here are some ideas to solve this problem:

• What do I need to do to prepare for a successful completion of these top-down initiatives?  Are there some goals I can set?
• What hasn’t been done well this year that I could improve?
• As this company creates a Marketing department, (yup, we don’t have one) what can I do to prepare the way?

In all honesty there is a lot on my mind with future opportunities and school starting soon, it’s difficult to stay focused on a proper goal strategy.  Focus Chris, focus!