| "Writing is not like painting where you add. It is not what | | | | 4. Product Descriptions and Specifications |
| you put on the canvas that the reader sees. Writing is | | | | Product descriptions and specifications are documents |
| more like a sculpture where you remove; you eliminate | | | | that describe the product on a detailed level. These |
| in order to make the work visible. Even those pages | | | | documents could be a part of manuals and brochures. |
| you remove somehow remain." | | | | 5. Executive Summaries |
| Elie Wiesel, 1928-, Rumanian-born American Writer | | | | These are one page documents found in the beginning |
| "Technical writer" can sometimes be a very loosely | | | | of reports and business documents. It summarizes the |
| used term. This is especially true if you're working for a | | | | document and gives the reader a high level overview |
| small or medium sized business. | | | | of what the rest of the document covers. |
| As tech writers, we're often under the impression that | | | | 6. RFPs and RFQs |
| we'll only be creating manuals, processes, and product | | | | Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for |
| specifications. But if you're working for a small or | | | | Quotation (RFQ) are business documents that are |
| medium sized business, you could be asked to do a lot | | | | submitted to companies asking them to bid for |
| more than that. | | | | business. |
| Let's look at nine of the most common documents you | | | | 7. Brochures |
| could be asked to create as a technical writer: | | | | Brochures are marketing documents which have one |
| 1. Technical Manuals | | | | purpose - move the reader closer to a sale. For |
| Technical manuals are documents that present the | | | | example - a brochure about a pest control service. |
| prescribed method of performing a task related to a | | | | 8. Press Releases |
| specific tool or process either mechanical or electronic. | | | | Press releases give information about a product. Press |
| These documents are also called reference manuals | | | | releases are marketing pieces masked in the form of |
| guides and installation or repair manuals/guides. | | | | news. There is a perception that news and press |
| 2. User Manuals | | | | releases are more credible than marketing documents. |
| User manuals are documents that provide instructions | | | | So companies use them to market their products. |
| for the use of a product. The principal difference | | | | 9. Letters and Memos |
| between a technical and user manual is the | | | | As a tech writer you are most likely to write letters |
| assumption that the user is not familiar with the | | | | and memos for mailings to a large number of people |
| operation of the product. The information is presented | | | | either within or outside the organization. Note: memos |
| based on this assumption so it may be on a more | | | | are always meant for internal business communication. |
| elementary level than a technical manual. These | | | | When you're working as a full time tech writer, you |
| documents are also called user guides. | | | | may not create all these documents. But you should |
| 3. Tutorials | | | | be aware of them. If you're planning on becoming a |
| A tutorial is a document that is related to a tutor or | | | | freelance technical writer, knowledge of creating these |
| tutors. For example - course material on how to | | | | documents can increase your client base. |
| perform tasks. | | | | |