Let’s start with a question: what skills are essential for excelling in a technical author job?
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- How many of you have technical authors on your team but do not know what they do?
- Have you tried to fit them in somewhere, or wanted to find them a role and failed?
- Have you written technical documentation for a client? If so, how did it go?
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You may have given up trying to understand their role, thinking you should upskill them to meet your priorities. You might not grasp what technical authors contribute in their jobs and underestimate their potential.
Let’s examine the issue.
Managers often perceive technical authoring as “writing documents.” However, in reality, it is a complex, multidisciplinary role that requires expertise in several areas. One important area is understanding the technical author’s job in depth:
Understanding Technical Information
Technical authors translate complex concepts into clear, user-friendly documentation that is easy to understand. They engage with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), interpret complex jargon, and ensure the accuracy of the information presented.
Structuring and Standardising Content
They do more than write. Technical writers need to work with formatting, templates, metadata, and indexing, which makes their job complex.
Managing Multiple Stakeholders and Reviews
Technical authors liaise with stakeholders and end users, each with different priorities and expectations.
The process involves multiple reviews by experts, who underestimate the work required to improve the documents. This aspect is a key part of their jobs.
Adapting to Evolving Tools and Technologies
From document management systems (DMS) like SharePoint, Confluence, and Asite to API documentation tools, technical authors must stay up-to-date with the constantly evolving industry standards. AI and automation are changing the nature of jobs and making technical writing more complex.
Balancing Quality with Deadlines
Managers don’t always prioritise documentation, which means writers have to finish it quickly, but still produce great work.
They must work within strict project deadlines while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and usability. These demands highlight the challenges inherent in a technical author’s job.
Why do managers struggle with technical authors and their role? Let me know in the comments.