Stepping into the role of a technical writer can be daunting, especially for those without a writing background. The task of creating User Documentation for a new product might stir up fear and anxiety, reminiscent of school days filled with writer's block and critical evaluations. However, writing for a user manual is a unique process that differs significantly from academic writing. This article aims to guide new technical writers through the process, providing strategies to overcome anxieties and produce effective documentation. With the right approach and resources, anyone can craft clear and helpful user guides.
User Documentation is a distinct genre of writing that serves a practical purpose: to help users understand and effectively use a product. Unlike creative writing or argumentative essays, it requires a straightforward and user-focused approach.
In school, writing was often about impressing a teacher with grammatical precision and adherence to a specific format. In contrast, User Documentation is a team effort where everyone, including your editor, is working towards the success of the product.
The structure of User Documentation mirrors the interaction between the user and the product. By breaking down the document into components, each addressing a specific topic, you can avoid writer's block. This modular approach simplifies the writing process to filling in the blanks, making it less daunting for new writers.
Your success as a technical writer depends on the support and resources provided by your employer or project lead. These include:
Rather than writing the entire document in one go, focus on creating and reviewing individual components. This iterative process allows for early feedback and reduces stress, leading to a more polished final product.
Feedback is an opportunity for improvement, not a personal critique. Stay open to suggestions and focus on correcting inaccuracies to enhance the quality of your writing.
Before diving into writing, gather as much information as possible about the product, its users, and the environment it operates in. This foundational knowledge will inform your writing and ensure that your User Documentation is relevant and helpful.
By understanding the unique nature of User Documentation and utilizing the right resources and methods, new technical writers can overcome their fears and produce valuable content for users. Remember, the goal is to facilitate the user's experience with the product, and with practice, writing technical documentation can become a rewarding and manageable task.
Great Technical Writing: The User-Product Life Cycle - A Documentation Tool
The User-Product Life Cycle (U-PLC) is a powerful tool for the User Document writer. Use the U-PLC to generate the high-level topics for your User Document.
Great Technical Writing: Tell Your Users What to Expect
In your User Documentation, you direct your Reader to perform tasks with your product. If you don't tell your Reader what to expect when performing those tasks, you will have a baffled Reader, resulting in dissatisfaction and expensive calls to technical support.
How Poor In-House User Documents Cost You Twice & What to Do About It
Many organizations produce in-house tools or modify commercially-available tools for their own use. These tools should get documented so they are of use to others in the organization. If this documentation is not created or is poorly written, it costs you twice.
