Re: Technical Writing Certifications

[<neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>]

Khizran Kaleem asks:
> I plan to get a technical writing certification. Can anybody suggest one?

No.

Don't waste your money and effort. Instead, write. Write, write some more, go
back and re-write, and just keep writing. Write technical instructions, write
fiction, write poetry, write C, C++, Java, Perl, or COBOL. Or some other favorite
code. (Then document the program you wrote. Or better yet, document it first
and then code it.) Develop a good portfolio of material that shows you can
create worthwhile documentation.

People who write crap can get certifications. Being able to show that you can
write good stuff is better, in my eyes, than any silly certification. Some
university-level courses in technical writing might just possibly be worthwhile.

This whole discussion (from both points of view, or maybe several more) has
happened on TECHWR-L before. Look it up in the archives. Why do you think you
need certification?

--Peter Neilson
  Certifiable tech writer


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