The Reponsibility of a Technical Writer
For technical writers, there has always been a focus on grammar, structure, format; all of the "engineering" that goes into creating useful documentation, in the schooling and training associated with the position. Attention to detail when it comes to style, spacing, and graphic use is a key stepping stone that must be placed on the road to mastery in the technical writing field. However, there is a much quieter and much more impactful side of technical writing that can fall to the wayside in a world full of highlighted professionalism and succinctness.
To leave a positive lasting impact on an audience member of a document, the reader must feel understood and respected. While an audience may appreciate an aesthetically pleasing document or a document that is especially easy to navigate, there needs to be a personal connection to the audience member themselves in order to create an outstanding impression. These connections can be created through successful technical execution just as simply as they could be executed by writing kindly to a person themselves. Using inclusive language for members of all communities, creating documents that prioritize accessibility for the targeted audience groups, and delivering their messages in a way that accomplishes their goals while remaining respectful, allows technical writers to show utmost prowess in their field.
Technical writers work in every field and for every field. They must be the epitome of a great communicator, and their span of knowledge and understanding must spread not only across disciplines but across audiences. In the below graphic, as sourced from
"Where Do Technical Writers Work?"
some of the various occupations that require technical writers can be seen:
Technical writers must be able to ensure that any and all of their audience members can understand and connect with the messages of their projects. There are many tools that can assist technical writers in the pursuit of elevated and empathetic writing, including audience analyses, inclusivity guides, and outside research in advocacy. Within this web page and its various pages, technical writers can learn how to use these tools and understand more about the impact and importance of empathy in technical writing.