Technical Author

Technical authors communicate technical messages to a specific audience at levels the user can fully understand. This involves interpreting the technology then designing and writing documentation. The information is often presented through an instruction manual, leaflet, CD-rom or online help. Other media may also be used, for example, video, PowerPoint or presentations.

Technical authors work for a range of industries, including defense, electrical and electronic engineering, information technology, telecommunications, life sciences, and business and financial services.

Communicating and collaborating: attending team planning/briefing meetings, questioning developers and managers to clarify technical issues and obtain information, satisfying user requirements by liaising with in-house subject matter experts and sales and marketing specialists, working with translators, printers and service providers.

Writing and editing content: writing, editing and presenting information in clear and simple English and to fit with the agreed style, making sure the information is organized effectively, commissioning, coordinating or preparing illustrations, indexing and cataloguing material, copy-editing the work of colleagues within the organization.

Managing projects: planning and managing the authoring project creating work schedules and working on and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
The work of a technical author provides one of the interfaces between the developers and the user. It allows the user to understand the system, product or application and, to some extent, help troubleshoot problems without recourse to the developer or manufacturer.