How to Start a Technical Writing Career
Technical writing is a growing field that offers many opportunities for those who are skilled in communicating complex technical information in a clear and concise way. I want to share with you the steps that I followed when getting into technical writing and starting to make money online.
These are the steps that you can follow to get started:
Learn how to code.
Build coding projects.
Learn how to write clear and concise technical documents.
Start writing about coding projects and problems you solve.
Publish your articles on blogging platforms.
Create a portfolio of four or more articles.
Apply for gigs and jobs.
Let's start exploring these steps one by one:
1. Learn how to code.
The first step to becoming a technical writer is to learn how to code.Technical writers need to have a basic understanding of coding in order to communicate effectively with developers and other technical professionals.
This will give you a foundation for the technical concepts that you will need to write about. Coding is a valuable skill in today's world, and it's never too late to learn. If you're interested in getting started with coding in 2023, you need to decide what type of coding you want to learn. You can major in the following fields:
Web Development (Frontend, backend and full stack web development)
Mobile Application Development
Web3 and Blockchain Developer
Data Science/Data Analysis
Artificial Inteligence
Machine Learning
DevOps
If you don't have any coding experience, you can start by learning the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
There are many online resources that can teach you the basics of coding, such as W3Schools, Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp and Youtube.
If you decide to major in web development or full-stack development, you must know how to use most of the popular languages, frameworks, and libraries. Javascript has more than 20 popular libraries and frameworks. Python has more than 10.
2. Build coding projects.
The best way to learn coding is by doing it. Once you have a basic understanding of coding, start building some coding projects. This will give you hands-on experience with different coding languages and technologies. You can find coding projects to work on online or create your own.
3. Learn how to write clear and concise technical documents.
In addition to coding skills, technical writers also need to have strong writing skills. Technical writing is a specialized form of writing that requires the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise way.
To get started with going through this technical writing course:
The course will teach you the essential skills of technical writing, including how to:
Write clear and concise sentences that are easy to understand.
Structure paragraphs in a logical way that flows smoothly from one point to the next.
Use grammar correctly to ensure that your writing is error-free.
The course will also cover:
The different types of technical writing, such as user manuals, product specifications, and training materials
The importance of audience analysis in technical writing
How to use visuals to enhance your writing
By the end of the course, you will be able to write clear, concise, and error-free technical documents that are effective in communicating complex information to your audience.
4. Start writing about coding projects and problems you solved.
One of the best ways to showcase your technical writing skills is to start writing about coding projects. You can write blog posts, articles, or even e-books about your projects. This will give you the opportunity to practice your writing skills and demonstrate your knowledge of coding.
When writing about your projects, be sure to focus on the technical aspects of the project and how it was built.
You should include screenshots and diagrams to help readers understand your work. You will just explain how you build something using a certain stack.
It doesn't matter what programming language you have learned. You can literally write about any framework, tool, software, or tech stack. You can be a technical writer in the following fields:
Web development (Front-end, back-end, and full-stack web development)
Android and iOS development
Data Science
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
DevOps
Ensure you are familiar with the frameworks and libraries in the programming language you have chosen. I mostly write articles on Data Science, Machine learning, and DevOps.
5. Publish your articles on blogging platforms.
Once you've written a few articles, publish them on blogging platforms. You can cross-post the same article on different blogging platforms to reach more readers.
DevTo
Hashnode
Medium.
FreeCodeCamp
This will help you get your work in front of a wider audience and will also help you build your personal brand. A personal brand is important; it helps you get noticed.
6. Create a portfolio of 4+ articles.
As you continue to write, start collecting your best articles into a portfolio. This portfolio will be a valuable asset when you're applying for jobs.
This portfolio will be a valuable asset when you start applying for jobs.
When someone sees your portfolio with all the published articles, they can easily give you work.
A portfolio is the cornerstone of getting technical writing gigs or any tech job.
For me, I have published more than 200 articles on Medium, Hashnode, DevTo, Freecodecamp, and other paying publications.
So when I apply for a gig, I will just show the company my portfolio, which increases my chances of getting the technical writing gig.
7. Apply for gigs and jobs.
This is the most frustrating part of any tech career. You may spend a lot of time applying for jobs, but you end up being rejected. It doesn't matter how many times you get rejected; you only need one technical writing gig to kickstart your career.
The hardest part is getting your first technical writing gig. But after getting your first gig, you will establish yourself with that company and you can write as many articles as possible (as long they are approved).
What I can tell you is to just keep reapplying as many times as you can, and something will come your way. I was also struggling to get gigs at the start. But I kept on reapplying until I got my first technical writing gig. There was one time I reapplied to the same site like five times until I got the gig, and I was paid $500 after my article was published.
You can find technical writing gigs and jobs on the websites below:
Writing gigs (articles)
Writing jobs (docs)
Write the Docs: Slack Channel
Job Boards like LinkedIn
Once you have visited these websites, you can search for a platform from the list that requires technical articles that are similar to the ones in your portfolio. Sites that cover most of your tech stack If they ask to see your previous work, you can provide them with a link to your portfolio.
Bonus Tip: Learn How to Send Cold Emails or DMs
How to Get Technical Writing Jobs with Cold Emailing
Cold emailing is a great way to get your foot in the door as a technical writer. By sending personalized emails to potential clients, you can explain how your skills and experience can help them achieve their business goals.
Tips for writing effective cold emails:
Do your research.
Before you send any emails, take some time to research the companies you're targeting. What are their products or services? Who are their customers? What are their pain points?Tailor your emails. Don't just send out a generic email to everyone. Take the time to personalize each email and explain how your skills can specifically help the recipient.
Keep it short and sweet. People are busy, so they don't have time to read long emails. Get to the point quickly, and make sure your email is easy to scan.
Include a call to action. Tell the recipient what you want them to do, whether it's visiting your website, reading your portfolio, or scheduling a call.
Here are some examples of how you can use cold emails or DMs to get technical writing jobs:
Find tech companies that use the same tech stack as you on LinkedIn. Then, send them an email or DM explaining how you can help them create technical documentation for their products.
Create a project using a tech company's software product and then write a technical article about how you built it. Then, send the tech company an email explaining how you used their product and ask them if they would be interested in hiring you.
Attend industry events and network with other technical writers. This is a great way to learn about open positions and get your foot in the door with potential employers.