How do you become a Magazine editor or writer?

What do I need to do to become a Technical Writer/Content Editor?

• My background is chiefly Facilities Management/Procurement/Commercial Real Estate, however, I completed my Business degree last year as a mature student of 32.It is only recently (through exhaustive introspection after being made redundant 4 months previously) that my passion falls within the technical writing/editing arenas. Moreover,What colour is your parachute?enabled me to identify what skills I have utilized and subsequently enjoyed throughout my life/career, to facilitate a career of my choice as opposed to just falling into roles I do not like. There are a number of occasions where I have executed editing, proof reading and writing skills throughout my career and University, however I believe these brief experiences prove insufficient in being able to now search for Technical Writer/Content Editor roles. Thus, I would like some advice as to what software/frameworks/certifications/qualifications I need to undertake to further develop my writing skill-set when applying for roles in the future. As I said, it's taken a lot of introspection since being made redundant 4 months ago. I have worked for 14 years undertaking a myriad of job roles within various industries. I used to be an agency temp for 4 years, between 17 and 21, before successfully gaining permanent employment for a Central Government department. After 10 years' service within said department, I decided to quit and go to University to do a Business degree. After graduating last year, I then found a permanent job working in Commercial Real Estate. I was subsequently made redundant after 10 months. What colour is your parachute?was a real eyeopener for me. I can't believe how ignorant I have been all my life and throughout my career, to not realize what job role I shouldbe pursuing/doing. From designing and writing my own newspaper at Junior School, to writing a diary throughout Secondary School, and from proof reading/editing essays to designing and creating training manuals as a PD and IT Trainer, it was clear as day that I should be doing a job involving writing. I can read for hours till my brain explodes, and I can proof read and edit till my eyelids can't take it no more. Having identified all of this, I also have developed a huge interest in infographics/data visualisation. I can marry these two together and voila - there is my answer. Being a creative and artistic person who also loves to read and write, it now makes perfect sense. Here is my plan but I would like a TW's advice as to whether such options are necessary: - Pursue a Masters in Professional Writing - Become a member of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Writers - Become a member of the Society of Proof Readers and Editors (I have to complete a test in order to become a member) - Learn everything there is to know about Adobe Illustrator/InDesign/Robohelp and any other software (Visio as another example) relevant to becoming a bonafide TW. - Create an online portfolio of everything I have edited/proof read/annotated/designed/produced (without breaking any disclosure laws) I've also read about Open Source Projects which can help with portfolio content, however, I have no idea what these exactly involve? How important is learning Robohelp/Visio and other software platforms to strengthen my skill-set and increase my employability? I suspect these are web-based delivery as opposed to the traditional e-document/paper-based formats? Apologies for my ignorance, this is why I need your help. I will do what it takes to help develop my career as a Technical Writer, even if this involves self-teaching all the necessary software tools and frameworks.

• Answer:

  I have worked as a technical writer and I now work as a marketing copywriter. I also teach copywriting and online marketing at the local commuter college. My goal as an instructor is to help my students get a job. I have worked in a number of different verticals, including consumer software, B2B software, commercial real estate, REIT's, and more. The funny thing is I don't really have any training. Long ago I got a "Creative Writing" degree, but I learned mostly how to write a Raymond Carveresque short story. I kind of fell into writing. I wanted to be a teacher, and did run my own school overseas for a while. I came back to Canada with hopes of teaching, but the demographic shift, combined with budget cutbacks meant I had to find another way to earn a living. I was at about your age (I was 32; I also read What Colour is Your Parachute, too!) when I thought that "writing" is the way to go. My first contract, about a year, was as a "technical writer" for a team of security architects in government. They wanted someone who could use Visio (I learned) to create use-cases, and document meetings. I also documented best practices, which were just ad hoc at the time. But what I was doing wouldn't really be called technical writing if I worked at, say, a software company. A large hardware company did interview me for a technical writing position, but the wanted some who could use Framemaker or Robohelp, which I didn't know. It's important to know that technical writing is, for most people, not the end destination. It's an entry-level job. It's a great way to learn about the product and customer. Understanding the product and the customer is really important - you can go on to marketing, or product management, or client management, or project manager. I'm just not sure if a lot of technical writers are being hired these days. And even if you did get the job, would you be happy in that environment? On the content side, copywriting is also an entry-level position at many marketing agencies. Writing, while appreciated, isn't really valued. Most of the money gets spent on the look-and-feel of a site, and the coding. The actual writing is an afterthought, if they have the budget. Or the CEO can write it or something. So copywriting is an entryway into an agency, but you'll also being doing things like social media managing (posting on Facebook). Most agencies seem to want to hire a jack-of-all trades, someone who can use graphics programs and some HTML coding and some writing and some social media and some analytics. My advice is to fake it 'til you make it, and focus on some of the skills you really like. For me, it's writing, analytics, and conversion optimization. My freelancer background also gives me a leg up on PR. The thing that has always worked for me is knocking on doors, emailing people, phoning them up for coffee. Want ads are not helpful. Understand who the decision maker is - who has the authority to hire you? Who needs help? I wouldn't spend a lot of money on coursework, because in this space universities typically have little understanding of what employers want.