Posted on Jun 23 Technical Writing can change your life! I used to be broke and didn't know how to make money in tech/online until I got into Technical Writing. In 2023, technical writers are in high demand. You can be earning $150 to $1000+ per article if you have good technical writing and coding skills. I have made $8500 in 2023 from technical writing alone.In this post I want to show you how you can get into technical writing too. I will also show you how to get gigs, gobs and start making money online with technical writing. Maybe Technical Writing can change your life too.To begin, let's start by discussing what is Technical writing.Technical writing is a type of writing that communicates complex technical information to a specific audience. The goal of technical writing is to make complex information easy to understand and use. Technical writers use a variety of techniques to achieve this goal, including clear and concise writing, the use of visuals, and the use of plain language.There are many different types of technical writing, such as:1. User manualsUser manuals are documents that explain how to use a product or service. They typically include step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and troubleshooting tips.User manuals are an essential part of any product or service. They help users get the most out of their purchase and can also help to prevent problems. Well-written user manuals can also be a valuable marketing tool, as they can help to build trust and confidence in the product.2. How-to guides and tutorialsHow-to guides and tutorials are a type of technical writing that provides instructions on how to perform a task. They are often used in online help documents, software manuals, and educational materials.How to guides and tutorials typically follow a standard format:Introduction: This section provides an overview of the product or task, and why the user might want to learn about it.Prerequisites: This section lists any software, hardware, or other resources that are required to complete the tutorial.Steps: This section provides step-by-step instructions on how to use the product or perform the task.Examples: This section provides examples of how the product or task can be used.Troubleshooting: This section provides information on how to troubleshoot problems that may occur during the tutorial.Conclusion: This section summarizes the key points of the tutorial.In my technical writing career, I majorly write how-to guides and tutorials. Here is an example of my how-to guide/tutorialHow to Setup Jenkins on Kubernetes Cluster with Helm3. Software documentationSoftware documentation explains how to use a software program. It typically includes information about the program's features, how to use the program, and troubleshooting tips.Software documentation can be divided into two main categories:Developer documentation: is written for software developers who need to understand how the software works in order to modify or extend it. It typically includes information about the software's architecture, design, and source code.User documentation: is written for end users who need to know how to use the software to achieve their goals. It typically includes information about the software's features, functions, and how to use them.4. API documentationAPI documentation explains how to use an application programming interface (API). APIs are sets of rules that allow software programs to communicate with each other. They allow software developers to create applications that interact with other software applications or services.API documentation typically includes the following information:API overview - This section provides an overview of the API, including its purpose, scope, and target audience.API reference - This section provides detailed information about the API's endpoints, methods, parameters, and responses.Examples - This section provides examples of how to use the API.Troubleshooting - This section provides information on how to troubleshoot problems with the API.5. White papersWhite papers are documents that present a technical topic in an informative way. They are often used to promote a product or service, or to educate the reader about a particular topic.It is a long-form document that presents information, expert analysis, and an organization or author's insight into a topic or solution to a problem. White papers are often used in business-to-business (B2B) marketing as part of a content marketing strategy.6. ReportsReports are documents that present the results of an investigation or analysis. They typically include information about the methods used, the findings, and the conclusions.Technical reports typically include the following sections:Introduction - This section provides an overview of the report, including its purpose, scope, and target audience.Background - This section provides the necessary background information for the report, such as the history of the project or the problem being addressed.Methods - This section describes the methods used to collect and analyze the data.Results - This section presents the results of the study, including tables, graphs, and other visuals.Discussion - This section interprets the results and discusses their implications.Conclusions - This section summarizes the key findings of the report and makes recommendations for future work.As a technical writer you can work on any type of technical writing depending on the company. You also need to have a strong understanding of the technical subject matter they are writing about.Skills that are essential for technical writers:Technical expertiseTechnical writers need to have a strong understanding of the technical subject matter they are writing about. This knowledge can be gained through education, experience, or a combination of both.Communication skillsTechnical writers need to be able to communicate complex information in a clear and concise way. This includes the ability to write clearly, use visuals effectively, and edit their work effectively.Research skillsTechnical writers need to be able to research technical topics in order to gather information for their writing. This includes the ability to find and evaluate sources, and to synthesize information from multiple sources.Organizational skillsTechnical writers need to be able to organize their writing in a logical and easy-to-understand way. This includes the ability to create outlines, write headings and subheadings, and use transitional words and phrases.Editing skillsTechnical writers need to be able to edit their own work effectively. This includes the ability to identify and correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.Technical writing is a growing field that offers many opportunities for those who are skilled in communicating complex technical information in a clear and concise way. I want to share with you the steps that I followed when getting into technical writing and start making money online.These are the steps that you can follow to get started:Learn how to code.Build coding projects.Learn how to write clear and consise technical documents.Start writing about coding projects and problems you solved.Publish your articles on blogging platforms.Create a portfolio of 4+ articles.Apply for gigs and jobs.Lets start exploring these steps one by one:1. Learn how to code.The first step to becoming a technical writer is to learn how to code.Technical writers need to have a basic understanding of coding in order to communicate effectively with developers and other technical professionals. This will give you a foundation in the technical concepts that you will need to write about. Coding is a valuable skill in today's world, and it's never too late to learn. If you're interested in getting started with coding in 2023, you need to decide what type of coding you want to learn. You can major in the following fields:If you don't have any coding experience, you can start by learning the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.There are many online resources that can teach you the basics of coding, such as W3Schools, Codecademy, FreeCodeCamp and Youtube.If you decide to major in web dev/full stack development, you must know how to use most of the popular languages, frameworks and libraries. Javascript has more than 20 popular libaries and frameworks. Python has more than 10.2. Build coding projects.The best way to learn coding is by doing. Once you have a basic understanding of coding, start building some coding projects. This will give you hands-on experience with different coding languages and technologies. You can find coding projects to work on online or create your own.3. Learn how to write clear and concise technical documents.In addition to coding skills, technical writers also need to have strong writing skills. Technical writing is a specialized form of writing that requires the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise way.To get started with going through this technical writing course:The course will teach you the essential skills of technical writing, including how to:The course will also cover:By the end of the course, you will be able to write clear, concise, and error-free technical documents that are effective in communicating complex information to your audience.4. Start writing about coding projects and problems you solved.One of the best ways to showcase your technical writing skills is to start writing about coding projects. You can write blog posts, articles, or even e-books about your projects. This will give you the opportunity to practice your writing skills and demonstrate your knowledge of coding.When writing about your projects, be sure to focus on the technical aspects of the project and how the project was built. You should include screenshots and diagrams to help readers understand your work. You will be just explaing how you build something using a certain stack.It does'nt matter what programming langauge you have learned. You can literally write about any frameworks, tools, software and tech stacks. You can be a technical writer in the following fields:Ensure you are farmiliar with the frameworks and libraries in the programming language you have choose. I majorly write articles on Data Science, Machine Learning and DevOps.5. Publish your articles on blogging platforms.Once you've written a few articles, publish them on blogging platforms. You can cross-post the same article on different blogging platforms to reach more readers:This will help you get your work in front of a wider audience and will also help you build your personal brand. Personal brand is important, it helps you get noticed.As one my collegues once said:Writing gave you wings. It unlocked the potential of the internet for your career. @tyaga001 A well-written article can open many exciting opportunities for a developer than the most outstanding resume. @tyaga001 6. Create a portfolio of 4+ articles.As you continue to write, start collecting your best articles into a portfolio. This portfolio will be a valuable asset when you're applying for jobs.This portfolio will be a valuable asset when you start applying for jobs.When someone sees your portfolio with all the published articles, they can easily give you works. Portfolio is the cornerstone of getting technical writing gigs and any tech jobs.For me I have published more than 200 articles on medium, Hashnode, Dev to, Freecodecamp and other paying publications. So when I apply for a gig, I will just show the company my porfolio and it increases my chances of getting the technical writing gig.7. Apply for gigs and jobs.This is the most frustrating part of any tech career. You may spend a lot of time applying for some job but you end up being rejected. It doesn't matter how many times you get rejected, you only need one technical writing gig for you to kickstart your technical writing career.The hardest part is getting your first technical writing gig. But after getting your first gig you will establish yourself with that company and you can write as many articles as possible (as long they are approved.)What I can tell you is to just keep reapplying as many times as you can and something will come your way. I was also struggling to get gigs at the start. But I kept on reapplying until I got my first technical writing gig. There was one time I reapplied to the same site like 5 times until I got the gig and I was paid $500 after my article was published.You can find technical writing gigs and jobs on the websites below:Once you have visited these websites, you can search for a platform from the list that require technical articles that are similar to the ones in your portfolio. Sites that cover most of your tech stack. If they ask to see your previous work, you can provide them with a link to your portfolio.Cold emailing is a great way to get your foot in the door as a technical writer. By sending personalized emails to potential clients, you can explain how your skills and experience can help them achieve their business goals.Do your research. Before you send any emails, take some time to research the companies you're targeting. What are their products or services? Who are their customers? What are their pain points?Tailor your emails. Don't just send out a generic email to everyone. Take the time to personalize each email and explain how your skills can specifically help the recipient.Keep it short and sweet. People are busy, so they don't have time to read long emails. Get to the point quickly and make sure your email is easy to scan.Include a call to action. Tell the recipient what you want them to do, whether it's visiting your website, reading your portfolio, or scheduling a call.Here are some examples of how you can use cold emails/DMs to get technical writing jobs:Find tech companies that use the same tech stack as you on Linkedin. Then, send them an email/DM explaining how you can help them create technical documentation for their products.Create a project using a tech company's software product and then write a technical article about how you built it. Then, send the tech company an email explaining how you used their product and ask them if they would be interested in hiring you.Attend industry events and network with other technical writers. This is a great way to learn about open positions and get your foot in the door with potential employers.If you follow the steps outlined above, you can increase your chances of success. This year I have made over $8500 from technical writing alone.In 2023, I have been working with four companies that pay between $150 to $500 (Fixate, SemaphoreCI, SweetCode, Hit Subscribe and ContentLab. It has been a great year so far.Join me as we unlock the potential of technical writing. Remember to connect with me on Twitter and LinkedIn for more insightful articles, discussions, and updates on technical writing.Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use. Are you sure you want to hide this comment? It will become hidden in your post, but will still be visible via the comment's permalink. 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