: Re: Does a technical writer need a technical background? Does a technical writer need a technical background?

@Phylliss352

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You need to understand (hopefully in a bit more depth than what you write) what the reader needs to know and what they already understand so you know what analogies, examples, level of detail, and other things to use to bridge the gap between that and the new material. So, you don't have to be an expert, but you do have to know where you're going if you want to lead someone else there.

Working with experts, you also have to know what the reader doesn't have to know so you can filter out unnecessary details and tangential topics.

You can always learn some of this as you go, but starting out with a general feel for the material and background really helps.

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