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Check out a sample of the 356 Technical Writer jobs posted on Upwork
$120
Fixed-price
Intermediate
Experience level
We are a naturopathy hospital in Andhra Pradesh, located on the banks of a river, near to a huge Dam. Recently, we had massive floods w…
Less than 30 hrs/week
Hours needed
Less than 1 month
Duration
Intermediate
Experience level
Attached please find the assessment requirements. A call at the end of the work to go through what has been done will also be required.…
Hours to be determined
Hours needed
More than 6 months
Duration
Intermediate
Experience level
MUST HAVE A SCIENCE QUALIFICATION/ MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH AUSTRALIAN OR USA OR BRITISH CURRICULUM The Curriculum Developer major functi…
$300
Fixed-price
Expert
Experience level
We are a startup developing a Robotic Intubation System that is guided by Machine Vision and requires minimal Physician interaction. Th…
$180
Fixed-price
Expert
Experience level
Job Title: Medical Research Writer for Journal Publication (Medicine/Dental Medicine) Job Description: We are seeking an experienced…
Less than 30 hrs/week
Hours needed
1 to 3 months
Duration
Intermediate
Experience level
We are seeking a skilled GIS content creator or tech journalist to join our team. As a content creator, you will be responsible for con…
Less than 30 hrs/week
Hours needed
3 to 6 months
Duration
Intermediate
Experience level
Help with a literature review of a topic, bonus if statistics analytic skills , Discuss within a month, adjust or go back. Nest Milesto…
30+ hrs/week
Hours needed
More than 6 months
Duration
Expert
Experience level
We write technical articles around Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, SEO, CRO, PPC & the wider digital marketing spectrum. I need…
$50
Fixed-price
Intermediate
Experience level
We are seeking an experienced technical writer to conduct a detailed review of our existing API documentation. The goal of this review…
Less than 30 hrs/week
Hours needed
1 to 3 months
Duration
Expert
Experience level
We are developing a software medical device. We need human factors study to be completed based on risk analysis. URRA is needed for a S…
can earn $25–$50/hr.
$25 $50
Median hourly rates (USD)
How to Become a Freelance Technical Writer
Technical writers are the key to making complex topics simple and straightforward. Whether writing white papers, user guides, or product manuals, technical writers are well versed in conveying technical topics in a way that makes the subject easy to understand for a non-technical audience. If you can distill complex topics down to easily understandable content, you may have what it takes to be a freelance technical writer on Upwork.
What does a freelance technical writer do?
A freelance technical writer takes complex, technical topics and crafts easily digestible, readable content in the form of blogs, white papers, user guides, medical writing, case studies, and product instruction manuals. This career path is centered around producing clear and concise technical information. Most clients requiring the skills of a technical writer leverage insight and information from engineers and other highly technical professionals.
Most highly technical professionals struggle to convey information in a way that makes sense for others not as well versed in their field. What’s needed is someone who can take that complex information from technical professionals and craft content that’s relatively easy to understand.
Freelance technical writers often collaborate closely with technical professionals in order to glean complex information and accurately translate it into content that communicates clearly to the client’s intended audience. Technical writers can be found working with organizations in a number of highly technical and complex industries, such as aerospace, IT, high-end manufacturing, engineering, energy, and the medical field.
What skills do I need to become a freelance technical writer?
In addition to possessing education and experience, the most in-demand technical writers exhibit a balance of left-brain and right-brain characteristics. On one hand, a technical writer must understand complex and technical concepts. On the other hand, the writer must also be proficient at crafting content that is easy to read while conveying the complexities of the topic at hand.
Most freelance technical writers should should possess the following:
- An ability to easily understand complex and technical concepts
- Excellent critical thinking skills
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- The ability to creatively distill complex topics down to easily understood content
- The ability to communicate effectively with clients, subject matter experts, and specific target audiences
- A thorough understanding of the industry and the target audience for which the content is being written
- Problem-solving and troubleshooting ability
- Excellent research and investigative skills
- The ability to meet deadlines
- The ability to collaborate with others
- Advanced organizational skills
What are the core freelance technical writer job responsibilities?
There are a number of tasks freelance technical writers are responsible for as they work with clients, other tech writers, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders. While responsibilities will vary across organizations, industries, and projects, there are some common responsibilities technical writers should anticipate taking on.
They include:
- Write and edit technical documents, including white papers, reference and product manuals, user guides, and blogs and articles
- Collaborate extensively with engineers, programmers, project managers, and other stakeholders in the technical field to understand concept details
- Research and investigate solutions important to the target audience
- Create and adhere to a content calendar, including research, draft, review, and publications processes
- Work directly with graphic designers and other artists to develop clearly understandable illustrations designed to help convey complex topics
- Receive feedback from technical stakeholders as well as clients in order to course-correct accuracy of the content
Should I get a degree or certification to be a freelance technical writer?
For those hoping to become a technical writer, the optimal education and experience is similar to that of many other professionals who write for a living. In these instances, it’s best to obtain some form of formal education, usually from an accredited university or college.
Technical writers must also earn experience writing for a variety of technical organizations and within complex industries. This provides practice and the ability to develop research and critical-thinking skills in a live environment.
Popular degrees or certifications recommended to become a freelance technical writer include:
- Associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in English, journalism, marketing, computer science, and communications from an accredited college or university
- Certified Professional Technical Communicator—offered by the Society for Technical Communication
- Medical Writer Certified—offered by the American Medical Writers Association
Jump-start your freelance technical writing career on Upwork and start looking for your first job. Eager to learn more about freelance technical writing jobs on Upwork? Check out these additional resources:
Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this section. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyse and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.
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