Tech writing as an African freelancer might be your thing too if you like learning by teaching others, writing for open source projects, and teaching others how to do the same, or just like explaining things to people about how things work, just by writing. Or if you are about to start your freelance writing career. 

The tech writing field is growing quickly, and there has never been a better demand for good writers. If you are interested in this career and would like to know how to become a technical writer, read on. Before we proceed, you must understand that being a tech writer is quite different from becoming a freelance website content writer. 

What is Tech Writing?

Tech writing is the art of expressing detailed instructions to help users comprehend a specific skill or product. A technical writer is an individual who writes such instructions, which are popularly known as technical documentation or tutorials. This might include user manuals, web-based support articles, or in-house documentation for programmers/API writers.

A tech writer writes in a manner that makes technical information available to the reader so that the reader can utilize the information for a specific purpose.

Technical writers are experts on the topic who create content from their knowledge. In simple terms, tech writers are content creators who specialize in converting complex information into easy-to-read content.

In certain instances, based on the company, the technician, scientist, or resident engineer may also be a technical writer, and “technical content development” is merely a part of their job description. There is much more to the task than writing the content, but the best part is that you get paid to write. 

Skills You Need for Tech Writing as an African Freelancer 

Like any career, a tech writer needs to have some skills that set them apart from other career paths. Here are some skills you need to start tech writing as an African freelancer. 

Understand The Use of English 

If you have the ability, before starting your freelance writing career, before you write, study English well to comprehend its tenses, spelling, and grammar basics. Any reader wishes his or her favorite article to be error-free in grammar and also grammatically unpalatable expressions. Many African freelancers have their native languages as their first languages, so it is important to learn proper use of the English language. 

Learn to Explain Simply 

Albert Einstein once said, “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” Knowing how to do something does not necessarily mean that you can effectively explain it to others. Being a good teacher requires compassion and the ability to break things down in a manner that is understandable to those you are teaching.

Possesses Writing Skills 

Contrary to what some people believe, writers are not born but made. Writing can be developed by writing only. You never know you are talented in it unless you sit and write. The only way to find out if you have a writing talent is by writing. You can initiate writing on any platform to warm up your writing muscles. Hone your skills with more practice and get paid writing. 

Road Map to Starting Tech Writing as an African Freelancer 

If you aspire to start your freelance writing career in tech, here’s a way for you to go about it. 

Invest in Training 

If you are an aspiring tech writer but not yet a specialist in your area, people will not pay attention to your thoughts. It is great to be a specialist in communication abilities, but you need to learn the technical aspect of your activity too. Studying formal educational programs can make you unique, but it won’t secure your success independently. So, besides getting your degree, you need to sign up for various technical writing courses as well.

There is a huge demand for excellent tech writers. Picking up some of the skills needed by taking some courses and certification is a good way to start, but you need to put extra effort into acquiring the rest. You must be conversant with the common software like Microsoft Office, project management programs like Asana, and content management software like WordPress.

Consume Technical Content 

To become a good writer, reading is very important. So, read whatever technical content you can find within your domain of interest. Search for examples of tech writing in real life on the internet. If there are certain types of technical reports that you like reading, like user manuals, white papers, or business plans, look for some of those examples and devour them. 

Write and Keep on Writing 

As a newbie, you can also apply for an internship to gain work experience. But do not forget that you do not have to do just that. Try creating other forms of content alongside to improve your skills, share it with an experienced person and request their feedback, or even reach out to tech founders on LinkedIn and offer to create content for them for free. They might even hire you as a full-time employee if they like what you create. And you can choose your best work and build an online portfolio to impress future employers.

Conclusion 

With all said above, starting your freelance writing career in tech writing as an African freelancer is super easy. Follow the road map, develop the skill, and stay ahead of relevant news with a community like ours.