Technical Writer

What is a Technical Writer?

A Technical Writer takes complex, specialized information and turns it into documentation that people can actually understand and use. Think instruction manuals, user guides, standard operating procedures, knowledge base articles. Basically, anything that helps someone work with a technical product, process, or system.

But here's the thing: it's not just about writing well. Technical writers have to pick up complicated concepts fast, collaborate closely with engineers and subject matter experts, and shift their communication style depending on the audience. One day they might be explaining factory machinery to line workers; the next, documenting a software API for developers. The constant? Making the complex simple.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $91,670 for technical writers in May 2024. Job growth is modest at around 1 percent projected through 2034, but the role stays relevant across software development, manufacturing, healthcare, and government.

Key Characteristics of Technical Writer

• Clear Communication Skills: Technical writers have a knack for breaking down complex information into language that matches their audience. They cut the jargon without oversimplifying.
• Technical Aptitude: They don't need engineering degrees, but good technical writers learn new technologies and processes quickly. They ask the right questions and understand enough to explain things accurately.
• Collaboration with SMEs: Working with subject matter experts is a regular part of the job. They gather information, validate accuracy, and make sure documentation reflects how things actually work in practice.
• Audience Awareness: Content gets tailored to the reader. Documentation for end users looks completely different from internal process guides or developer docs.
• Attention to Detail: In technical documentation, accuracy really matters. A single error in a procedure can lead to safety issues, compliance violations, or expensive mistakes.
• Modern Tool Proficiency: Technical writers today use content management systems, screen recording software, version control, and increasingly deliver documentation through interactive web platforms and even social media.

Technical Writer Examples

Example 1: Software Documentation Specialist

At a SaaS company, a technical writer creates user guides, API documentation, and help center articles for a project management platform. She talks to product managers and engineers about new features, uses the software herself to understand the user experience, then writes step-by-step guides with screenshots. She also keeps the knowledge base updated, responds to feedback, and makes sure everything stays current with each release. Her work cuts down support tickets and helps new users get productive faster.

Example 2: Manufacturing Process Documentarian

In an automotive plant, a technical writer develops standard operating procedures and work instructions for production line processes. He shadows operators and quality engineers, records their workflows, and builds visual guides with photos and diagrams. The documentation has to meet ISO standards while being clear enough for new line workers to follow safely. When processes change, he updates the docs and works with training teams to keep everyone current.

Technical Writer vs Documentation Owner

Both roles involve creating and maintaining documentation, but they have different scopes.

Technical writers are usually dedicated writing professionals who create documentation for many different processes or products. Documentation owners, on the other hand, are often the people who own a process or product. They're accountable for keeping that specific documentation accurate, even if someone else does the actual writing.

How Glitter AI Helps Technical Writers

Glitter AI changes how technical writers capture and create documentation by eliminating the most time-consuming part: writing that initial draft. Rather than shadowing subject matter experts, scribbling notes, and spending hours writing from scratch, technical writers can use Glitter to record SMEs performing tasks while explaining what they're doing. The platform automatically generates step-by-step documentation with screenshots, annotations, and clear instructions.

This lets technical writers focus on what they're actually best at: refining content, ensuring consistency, optimizing for the audience, and maintaining quality. The knowledge transfer from SMEs becomes faster and more accurate because the documentation captures exactly what was demonstrated. More documentation gets produced in less time without sacrificing the quality standards the role demands.