When you talk to someone who isn’t in the writing field, they tend to think that we are all the same. Usually, they think that you are a fiction writer. Their first question is “What kind of stories do you like to write?” When you tell them that you are a technical writer, copywriter, speechwriter, etc., they look dumbfounded. As you know, there are so many different kinds of writers out there. If you are trying to break into the business writing industry, your first task is figuring out what kind of writer you want to be. But, how can you decide what kind of writer you want to be? Here are three type of business writers:

Technical Writers

Technical writers (like me) are usually the ones you see working in the information technology (IT) world. They are the ones who help software developers, database administrators, system engineers, etc. get the process of developing a system down on paper in a way that anyone can understand. They write all kinds of technical documentation, like design documents, software specification documents, proposals, user manuals, online help, and the list keeps going. Technical writers went to school for either English (moi) or Computer Science. Many technical writers will tell you that they got into the writing career by accident. They were programmers who could write, so they were the ones who everyone went to write their documentation. However, there are a few who truly wanted to do it. They loved writing and technology, so they wanted to find a career that would allow them to do it. Behold, technical writing.

Speechwriters

Speechwriters write speeches for others. These speeches are usually for people who have to correspond with the public. As everyone knows, you say one wrong thing, and you could really cause some damage to yourself and others. Therefore, speechwriters are there to ensure that you don’t do that. They double check facts and make the speech flow. Speechwriters usually have a background in journalism or public relations. If you want to work with a politicians, maybe a degree in political science could help. Speechwriting is hard, and you usually have to ensure that you are writing in a way that the public will believe that the person giving the speech actually wrote it himself/herself. However, if you have a passion for writing speeches, then you can do it.

Copywriters

Copywriters write public relations and/or marketing material that is created for a target market to sell them on a company’s brand, or bring awareness to a cause. Copywriting materials you tend to see around are brochures, press releases, ads, even web content. It is very important to have a good copywriter because that person has to have a knack for persuading people. These writers have backgrounds in public relations or marketing. You have to be a people person. If you aren’t, then this might not be the writing career for you. However, if you are, it is a great writing field that alllows you to show your creative side.

Whatever writer you decided to be, make sure that you really, REALLY want to do it. Writing can be stressful. Even though you are writing alone, you have to deal with other personalities. You also have to deal with deadlines that are ever-changing. My passion is technology and research, so technical writing and proposal writing is more my cup of tea. You might like to do something more creative that is shown to the public, so copywriting is something you’d rather do. If you like to hear your words being spread to the public, then get into speechwriting. However, find the one that makes you smile every day.

Photo Credit: 10.4.10 By Paige Weaver

Written by: Shevonne on October 18, 2010.

Tags: copywriter, proposal writer, speech writer, Technical writer