How can freelance journalism benefit technical writers?
Colin P Dunbar (MITCSA)
Why freelance journalism? Of all writing forms, journalism is the closest to technical writing.
The following extract from TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION (3rd Quarter, 1984) states clearly the similarity between journalism and technical writing: "We both strive to describe facts correctly, with a completeness tempered by practiced judgement about what our audiences needs to know. And often we both must explain for novices complex financial or scientific situations" - Dr T.R. Girill.
The purpose of this article is to highlight the basic similarities between freelance journalism and technical writing, and possibly encourage technical writers to pursue freelance journalism in order to benefit their technical writing career.
Cyril Windhurst, in his article A CASE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS, ITCSA Bulletin 7/87) says: "Writing press articles for magazine editors in the hope that they will be published and paid for is very much a Russian roulette-type of existence".
It is fair to say that if someone really wants to do something they do not do it by halves. Freelance journalism is not something one can do by halves. A freelance journalist is anybody who actively pursues freelance journalism, contributing regularly to magazines and newspapers, and succeeds in having work published regularly.
Brevity is the soul of journalism. Although the technical writer must supply all the necessary information his reader requires, the writer must do so with the least amount of reading possible. Therefore brevity is also the soul of technical writing.
Editors dictate the length of articles. If the freelance journalist is going to contribute to a publication, then he or she must not exceed the length stipulated by the editor. It is fair to say that most people can tell a story in any number of words, but to relate the same tale using the fewest words demands discipline, ruthless self-appraisal, and enormous effort.
Freelance journalism is an ideal training ground for developing this all-important aspect of writing.
Journalistic articles consist of facts and interest. Technical writing consists only of facts. Facts to be put in the clearest possible way. There is no excuse for unnecessary padding.
Even novelists have to keep it short and sweet.
Facts are sacred. Editors will immediately reject any manuscript containing suspect facts. Therefore journalists conduct their research thoroughly.
Journalism teaches you to check, check and double-check facts before submitting your work to a publication.
Thoroughness in researching, when applied to technical writing can only increase the quality of authorship, and result in a better document.
"To be a writer, one must be a reader". Fay Goldie, in her book SUCCESSFUL FREELANCE JOURNALISM says the following: "Dig deep into your subject, and you'll be surprised how many treasures you unearth for future work".
How often do we read further work on the subject which we are writing about?
Reading builds knowledge. And as a communicator, knowledge can only be an asset.
An interesting aspect of freelance journalism is the fact that the successful freelance journalist writes about many various subjects. He or she cannot be a specialist in any particular field, instead he or she spends many hours over open books.
A principle in journalism totally applicable to technical writing is: REGARD THE OBVIOUS AS THE BESETTING SIN.
A well-qualified artisan or technician, by the simple nature of his training, could in many instances and unintentionally make assumptions.
Always re-write the obvious.
Plot your work. In all forms of writing, a basic aspect of the training is how to plot the story. How many of us plot (or plan) our document?
Plotting is an important aspect for writing anything; from a 2-page report to a 500-page manual. The technical writer should have an overview of what his manual is going to contain, before starting to actually write.
In technical writing planning has an additional benefit. It can help the writer with his research.
Language. Many technical writers pay little or no attention to language or grammar. We are in the business of writing, of communicating, yet so basic an aspect of the process is regarded as secondary. Or worse still, it is regarded as unimportant.
Journalism offers ideal training for the technical writing field. Possibly through this article many technical writers will consider becoming involved in freelance journalism. You will gain added skills and it will benefit your career as a technical writer and communicator.
Let's not ignore the technical skills, but let us get into writing.
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