It's been a while here.
Today, I'll be discussing THE PROCESS TO TECHNICAL WRITING. To produce a high-quality and valuable document for the intended audience, technical writing necessitates careful planning and preparation.
As a technical writer, it's essential to understand the necessary steps before diving into the writing process.
"I've been proficient in these steps from the beginning because, even as a student, they are standard procedures for our projects and research. The reality is, there's no definitive method for technical writing. Nevertheless, thorough planning and preparation for your technical documentation are always beneficial, ensuring the efficient and effective communication of technical information to the intended audience."
Here are typical stages in the development of technical documentation:
Pre-writing
Research
Drafting
Revising
Editing and proofreading
PRE-WRITING PHASE: In the pre-writing phase, the initial and vital step in technical writing, your actions significantly impact the entire writing process. This stage encompasses activities that ready you for writing, which include:
a. Defining your purpose
b. Identifying your target audience
c. Determining the scope of your work
d. Establishing a timeline and workflow
e. Structuring your message in advance
DEFINING YOUR PURPOSE: A technical writer must define their purpose by asking introspective questions such as: Who am I? Why am I creating this document? Am I aiming to educate my audience? Answering these inquiries provides a clear direction for your project.
IDENTIFYING YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE: It's important to remember that technical writing isn't for everyone. Consequently, identifying your audience is crucial for tailoring your message to meet their goals, needs, and expectations.
DETERMINING THE SCOPE OF YOUR WORK, ESTABLISHING A TIMELINE AND WORK-FLOW: In this stage, it's vital to pose questions that define the extent, necessary steps, and timeline for your documentation. These questions encompass:
What's the project's completion timeframe?
What steps are essential for creating the document?
Which format is suitable for publication?
How can I plan my writing to meet the final deadline?
STRUCTURING YOUR MESSAGE: Before commencing your documentation, create a clear outline of what you want to convey and when you intend to deliver it in your technical communication.
PRE-WRITING serves as the roadmap for any writing endeavor, aiding the writer in pinpointing the focus of their documentation or book.
In the next discussion, we will talk about RESEARCHING as an important and most crucial process to Technical writing.