Write on Time: What Do Technical Communicators Do?

by Melody Brumis EBSTC Senior Member

Melody Brumis has been a contract writer and active East Bay STC member. Recently, she embarked on the adventure of starting a small business with her friend, Adrienne Tange. Write on Time Solutions, LLC is a technical writing company that creates clear, concise and accurate technical documentation or Web content — always on time and on budget.

Since starting our business, Write on Time Solutions, Adrienne and I have attended many networking events. At each event (aside from STC), I'm asked these questions: "What is a technical communicator?" and "What do technical communicators do?"

While I could answer these questions with a standard elevator speech, see Elevator Speech Do's and Don'ts, I've found that my replies vary every time because my work as a technical communicator varies. In fact, I enjoy being a technical communicator because it's a career that's always changing.

Work We've Done

I thought I could call 10 technical communicators and get 10 different answers. Instead, because it's the beginning of the new year, I decided to reflect on the work that Write on Time Solutions was hired to do in 2009.

Template Design

Our first project was helping an instructional designer create a template for a Word document. I'd call this template design.

Grant Writing

Our second project was writing a grant for a winegrower's association. I'd call this grant writing.

Blog Creation

A third project was creating a blog for a virtual assistant. I'd call this blog creation.

Flowchart Development

A fourth project was developing a flowchart of financial processes for an online auction company. I'd call this flowchart development.

Instructional Design

And, finally, at our current project for a major California utility, we're designing training curricula for employees. I'd call this instructional design.

And Many More

In conclusion, we had a busy year and yet our list only scratches the surface of what technical communicators do. In the past, we've done more writing of procedures and processes, online help, user guides, and Web site development. And, who knows what we will be doing in the future. We had one call for what we'd call a copywriting project.

We do know that it looks to be an exciting, fulfilling, and prosperous New Year. What will you be doing in the New Year? Or, shall I ask you this question: What do you do as a technical communicator? If you'd like to add to our list, send us an e-mail at info@writeontimesolutions.com. We'll share our combined list in our next column.

Melody and Adrienne are writing this column to help you achieve small business success. If you have questions, e-mail them at info@writeontimesolutions.com. They will address your questions in future columns.