The Process of Writing

The introduction and strategies for writing shows that there are various ways to go about technical writing. I think the first issue to address is the audience. If technical writing is bad, if it is unclear, then the basis for all writing should be to establish the level or understanding of the audience. How deep is their knowledge? For what are they going to use this information? How old, what gender and what social background are they? You would most likely present your information differently for a group of 5th graders and a group of college graduates. The level of understanding and ability to comprehend should guide the writer in technical writing.



I think organization is another initial issue. It's always good to see where you are and where you're trying to go. It's also very helpful to the audience to know where you're headed. Once you establish the audience type and their needs it's good to plan how to get there. I love to get into a rhythm when I'm writing but I understand that the organization is key to my effectiveness. The clues I give in writing can help the audience follow along and help aid in comprehension.



Revision is another area for focus. Sometimes I think we skip right to proof reading and assume we'll revise in the process. I thought it was interesting that Michael E. Adelstein separated revision and proofreading. The other authors tended to combine the two into one step. Writing should be complete before effective proofreading can be done. If you're rewriting sections or rearranging sentences, it's hard to ensure that everything is grammatically correct. Separating the two, aids in effective technical writing.