The Future of Technical Communication. Sounds like a pretty heady topic doesn't it? The most recent issue of Technical Communication dives head first into trends that will shape the profession, and what the academic community is doing to rethink how they prepare the next generation of technical communicators.

In my personal experience, one thing is becoming very clear. The traditional idea of a "Technical Writer" is quickly being abandoned. What I've seen first hand in my current work is that more value is placed on versatility and creativity, than just being able to write well.

At my company, Technical Writers no longer exist, and haven't for a long time. Don't get me wrong, that was my job title when I was hired, but it became apparent within the first few months on the job that it was really more than that. I was asked to switch from technical documentation, to marketing copywriting, to web writing. Every day was something new, and my job responsibilities grew exponentially.

So what does this mean to your average technical writer? Well, be prepared, and get educated. As employers put more value on versatility and creativity, you don't want to be left behind. That means keeping up with the latest trends, and figuring out how you can leverage new tools and processes to take your communication projects to the next level.

Keith Hoffman
President - STC Four Lakes