When to prefer the Time based quote?

1. When scope of work is not certain or is likely to change. In a 15 working month project, a mistake in estimation can wipe out your profits. Mistakes in bigger projects can wipe out your existence (though such projects are rare in India).

2. Scope of work is more than 6 working-months. The normal rates in this case may not give a realistic charges. When we charge for an assignment, the marketing and other overheads are added. Such overheads are reduced is we bag a bigger deal. We do not mind passing on the benefit to the client (that's how the market works).

3. When the client is making all the resources (hardware, software etc.) available and the vendor's scope of supply is limited to skillsets only. For example, when the client wants you to send 2 writers to their office for 6 months contract.

4. If your client is billing his/her client on hourly/daily basis. Your invoice and work report will be transferred to the final client with necessary amendments.

In the last one decade, education format has undergone a drastic change in India. Virtual Training & Distance Learning have become a part of an educational process. The quality and effectiveness of Distance Education have improved in the subsequent years. This emerging educational process is widely being used in universities and institutions around the globe. With the recent trend of technological advancement, Distance Learning is enjoying more recognition because of its potential in providing individualized attention as well as communication for the international students.

Pursuing a good Distance Learning course can help scores of people in scaling new heights in their respective organizations. In this fast growing world, Distance Learning helps students in saving their time as well as improving their quality of study.

Considering the advantages of Distance Learning, Technowrites has launched its best seller Diploma in Technical Communication course in the Distance Learning mode. This unique course has been designed and conceptualized with an industry as well as training experience of 16 years and 9 years, respectively. Training will be imparted in synchronous as well as asynchronous mode. Synchronous mode focuses on online delivery, where all students are present at the same time.  They coordinate with their trainer through Chat Sessions & Telephonic Conferences. Asynchronous mode involves online delivery, where students can access Technowrites’ state-of-the art training materials, Training Videos, and Interactive Computer Based Tutorials (CBTs) as per their own schedule. Students need not gather for interaction at the same time.

This course is useful for graduates from any discipline who want to shape their career in this lucrative and well-paying field of Technical writing. This course focuses on communication basics, writing and grammar, technical writing theory, processes & practices, and technical writing tools. The course is 100% job-oriented and will make the student an industry-ready professional. Students are trained by experienced faculty members. Technowrites is getting a good response for the course. Many of our students have been placed in reputed MNCs. Any graduate with good command over English will definitely benefit from this course.

Technowrites is a leading Technical Documentation Services provider in India. Technowrites provides Technical Communication services, consultancy, and training since 1994, and has achieved remarkable milestones during its journey to success.  Technowrites’ mission is to provide world-class technical documentation outsourcing and training services to suit the demands of global technology and non-technology companies. Technowrites is well known for providing high-quality hands-on training. For more information on Technowrites, visit www.technowrites.com.

- Gaurav Tank
gaurav@technowrites.com

This article was published in Sakal Daily on 16th June 2009.

Technical Writing is a new and an emerging field. Since the inception of I.T. industry in India, various industries and fields have come into existence. These fields include graphic designing, security management, networking, technical writing and many more. But surprisingly, even if technical writing emerged because of I.T field, application of technical writing is not restricted to only I.T. This is because the writing skill is used in most of the industry verticals. Writing is not limited to the field of I.T.

What is Technical Writing?
Technical Writing means conveying technical information in an appropriate manner to the correct audience, and in a format in which the targeted audience understands. This may include printed documents as well as online documents (help file).

Advantages of Technical Writing
Many companies in the technical domain discover or create information about many things. This information, if not stored and used properly, may get wasted. Rather companies not making appropriate use of such information may be adversely affected. Here comes the role of a technical writer. A technical writer gathers information and stores it. A technical writer delivers this information to the target audience in a proper way. This makes technical writing imperative in all fields.

Who can do Technical Writing?
One who has a good hold on language, ability to understand technology, and presenting the information in an easily understandable form can become a technical writer. A technical writer can be a male or a female. Some surveys depict that there are more number of female technical writers than the male technical writers in India.

Is an engineering degree or a B.A. essential to become a technical writer?
No. It is not necessary to be a B.A. or an engineer to be a technical writer. But the will to learn and ability to grasp the subject is essential. In fact, education in technical stream will be helpful to understand highly technical subjects thoroughly and quickly.

Where can a technical writer get a job?
A technical writer can get a job in I.T, manufacturing, engineering, telecom, networking, banks and financial institutions and many more industries.

How much does a technical writer earn?
Non-experienced/fresher may earn Rs.8000/- to Rs.15000/- per month approximately. Technical writer after 2-3 years of experience may earn upto Rs 40000/- per month. According to a survey conducted by STC India Chapter, the average salary of a technical writer in India is Rs. 8,00,000/- per annum.

What can be the career path of a technical writer?
A technical writer, after 3-4 years of experience, can become a Senior Technical Writer. After another 2-3 years of experience, he/she can become a Manager or can specialize in a field or technology of technical writing. At present in India, there are only a handful of technical writers with an experience of more than 15 years. On the other hand, there are technical writers with 30-40 years of experience outside India.

Where one can learn technical writing?
Unfortunately, no university today conducts courses for technical writing. Pune University was conducting course in technical writing until two years ago. At present, Technowrites Pvt. Ltd. is imparting training for technical writing. Technowrites is a pioneer in technical writing services, consultancy, and training in India. These courses are in great demand and are receiving good response from the industrial world.

-Makarand Pandit (mak@technowrites.com)

This article was published in Sakal Daily on 2nd June 2009.