I find it interesting that so many articles about technical writing are of the what it's like to be a tech writer variety. Let's posit why this is the case:
- technical writers are vain, and like to write about themselves
- no one ever really set out to be a technical writer, and the journey to get there is a large part of the process
- no one knows what the heck a technical writer is, so we're filling the demand for an answer
- as communicators, technical writers are compelled to share their take on the story
- because tech writers are often playing catch-up with their subject matter, writing about what they already definitively know is an attractive proposition
I'd give the most weight to bullet point #2. I think there are numerous jobs like tech writing that are hidden within the layers of business, it's just that we have the immediate tools (and free time) to tell the story. The variety of well-paid, intellectually-challenging, nichey jobs in the professional world never ceases to amaze me.
That said, I'm planning a my post on this topic soon...
