Workplace writing: An examination of technical writers in action

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine some of the characteristics of technical writers to better explain the genre to the layman. There are a lot of misconceptions about the duties of technical writers, and this paper looks to clear up some of these misconceptions by analyzing interviews with technical writers and examining academic research on technical writing. To conduct my research, I interviewed four technical writers from four different companies: Charles Machine Works (Ditch Witch) in Perry, Oklahoma; Keybridge Technologies in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Coating Robotics in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Fire Protection Publications in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

After analyzing the results of the interviews, I identified three emerging themes present in each one of the four technical writing jobs: audience analysis, collaboration, and flexibility. The themes are examined in greater detail and supported with evidence from academic articles. I reveal how each theme emerged in each workplace, and discussed the importance of the theme to technical writers. By recognizing these characteristics of technical writing, we can better understand the responsibilities of a technical writer and hopefully clear up some of the confusion about technical writing.