
Discover the basics of technical writing, what it is and isn't, how it differs from copywriting and ux writing, plus quality criteria and a structured process.
Explore what technical writing really is, from manuals and lab reports to UX style guides, and learn how it communicates technical topics to specific audiences through usable instructions.
Challenge the belief that engineers or any writer can trivially handle technical writing. Clarify that success depends on audience understanding, research, testing, editing, and clear communication for efficiency.
Practice applies quality criteria to technical writing by evaluating a draft for correctness, completeness, usability, clarity, conciseness, and consistency, guiding targeted improvements through an exercise.
Conclude the first section by solidifying the groundwork of technical writing, clarifying what it is and isn't, and preparing to dive into the writing process in the next section.
Congratulations on completing section two; follow a structured writing process to tame the big beast of technical writing. In section three, explore the community of technical writing and what's ahead.
Learn how to avoid common pitfalls in technical writing, and discover tips and tricks. Review best practice examples and additional resources.
Explore the four knowledge areas essential for technical writers—technical knowledge, product knowledge, user knowledge, and language and writing knowledge—and develop four core skills: research, writing, social, and learning.
Identify and avoid common technical writing pitfalls, such as vague purpose, broad audiences, unclear structure, irrelevant details, inconsistent terminology, too many editors, and lack of audience research or testing.
Explore best practice examples in technical writing, including Slack's clear instructions and navigation, MailChimp's style guide, and structured visuals, headlines, and steps.
Access the instructor's resources online, including the UX Writing Memo newsletter, live webinars, and CV and portfolio reviews to boost your tech writing career.
Disclaimer: Please note that this course does not contain AI-generated content. All lessons and materials are independently developed by the instructor, drawing on more than eight years of hands-on experience in UX Writing and a science-based background in communication sciences. We’ll focus on what really matters in practice—and I hope you enjoy completing this course as much as I enjoyed creating it.
About this course
As technology has made its way into every part of our lives, we are required to understand and use new technology on a regular basis. While some products and procedures are easy to comprehend, we often find ourselves confronted with technology that just leaves us clueless. This is where Technical Writing comes into play: It helps us to understand technology by explaining it to us in a clear, concise and easy-to-understand manner.
Therefore, Technical Writing plays a major role in communication technology and processes. It helps us to understand and use certain products or follow certain procedures effectively and safely – and this is exactly why Technical Writing has become an essential part of product development. However, many engineers, designers, product managers and even writers struggle when being asked to create a Technical Writing document. And this is where this class comes into play!
Who should join
This course is the perfect match for engineers, product managers and all other kinds of professionals working in the field of technology who want to improve their Technical Writing, and all writers who consider becoming Technical Writers.
What you will learn
In this course, you will learn
what Technical Writing is and what it is not
how to create a Technical Writing document from scratch
how to ensure the quality of your Technical Writing document
which skills and knowledge you need to become a great Technical Writer
how to approach the blank page in Technical Writing
how to properly plan your writing process
how to collect and organize your contents
how to write and edit your document
Sounds good? Then join me in this class and make your first steps as a Tech Writer!