Working remotely as a technical writer can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. You can enjoy more flexibility, autonomy, and creativity, but you also face some obstacles and risks. How do you cope with them and make the most of your remote work experience? Here are some tips and best practices to help you.
One of the first things you need to do as a remote technical writer is to create a comfortable and productive workspace. This means having a reliable internet connection, a suitable device, and a noise-canceling headset. You also need to organize your files, tools, and resources in a way that makes them easy to access and update. You can use cloud-based platforms, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or GitHub, to store and share your documents and code snippets.
Sharing on Google Drive or Dropbox is flat out bad advice, and is in violation of good security practices. Most companies specifically prohibit it (in particular, companies in industries where privacy is a major concern.) Also, you will typically be using a VPN to your company's network, eliminating the need to "organize your files, tools, and resources."
Noise cancelling headphones? Why? You are at home. You need those in the office. Typically you are provided the equipment you need. If not, never work on your personal computer; buy a separate one for work. If there is ever a security issue, you don't want your personal equipment seized. Remember Hillary Clinton and her email server. You arrange your workspace in an office; of course you would at home.
Another key aspect of working remotely as a technical writer is to manage your time and tasks efficiently. You need to set clear and realistic goals, prioritize your workload, and track your progress. You can use online tools, such as Trello, Asana, or Jira, to create and assign tasks, monitor deadlines, and communicate with your team. You also need to balance your work and personal life, by setting boundaries, taking breaks, and avoiding distractions.
Again, all of this applies to onsite situations. Also, this does not mention the two most common remote meeting tools: Zoom and MS Teams.
How is this different from in-office work? Don't place material for your employer on a personally-provisioned tools, such as Trello or Jira. Always use company-provisioned tools.
Make a to do list, first thing in the morning, that includes must do, should do and go to do tasks. This small step really helps to stay productive when working remotely or otherwise as well.
Communication and collaboration are essential skills for any technical writer, but especially for remote ones. You need to communicate clearly, concisely, and consistently with your colleagues, clients, and users. You can use various channels, such as email, chat, video calls, or forums, to exchange feedback, ideas, and information. You also need to collaborate effectively, by following the style guides, standards, and processes of your organization or project. You can use tools, such as Google Docs, Confluence, or Markdown, to create and edit documents collaboratively.
Once again, everything discussed here applies to an onsite role as well as a remote role - particularly the first two sentences (which border on condescending.)
Except that the first two sentences are on the wrong side of the line. Style guides have nothing to do with collaboration. They are all about presentation. Don't use any tools not provided by your employer or client. Since when is Markdown a collaboration tool?
Regular virtual meetings and clear documentation of project progress help maintain alignment. Embracing flexible schedules allows for increased productivity, while proactive communication ensures swift problem resolution.
Working remotely as a technical writer also offers you many opportunities to learn and improve your skills and knowledge. You can access a wealth of online resources, such as blogs, podcasts, webinars, or courses, to keep up with the latest trends and best practices in technical writing. You can also join online communities, such as Write the Docs, Technical Writing World, or Stack Overflow, to network with other technical writers, ask questions, and share insights.
No different than working in an office. You can do the same. I have to provide 64 more characters to be able to post this. Grading by the pound and not quality.
Finally, working remotely as a technical writer requires you to be creative and adaptable. You need to be able to solve problems, find solutions, and overcome challenges on your own. You also need to be open to new tools, technologies, and methods, and be willing to experiment and innovate. You can use tools, such as Canva, Snagit, or CodePen, to create and enhance your visuals, screenshots, or code examples. You can also use tools, such as Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid, to check and improve your writing.
Working remotely as a technical writer can be a rewarding and challenging experience. By following these tips and best practices, you can cope with the obstacles and risks, and make the most of the opportunities and benefits.
This is not different from working in an office. Never place your client's content in any cloud tool or storage that is not provisioned by the client. Even freelancers have to be worried about data breeches.
This article provides no information of substance to an experienced Technical Writer. As stated in several of my comments, the content applies to onsite situations as well as remote situations. The section on file transfer offers bad advice that conflicts with standard security practices, and the section on remote tools omits the two most commonly used ones. If this is the best that an AI article can generate, we dont have to worry about being replaced by AI any time soon.
Remote work offers the opportunity for focused writing, but I also prioritize virtual networking to stay updated on industry trends and build professional connections.