niedziela, 5 października 2014

What To Look For In An Engineering Technical Writer And Editor

By Jocelyn Davidson


When it comes to choosing writers and editors for projects, you need the right person for the job. Not everyone can work with any kind of text. Some prefer working on fiction, for instance, while others are great at travel books. Certain areas are very specialized though. For example, if you're going to produce a book that engineers would use, you need an engineering technical writer and editor.

Many people think that technical writers and editors should be qualified specialists in the subject they're writing about. However, this isn't always the case. While it's certainly ideal to have an engineer writing or editing your book, it's more important to choose someone who can write and edit well, even if they know nothing about engineering.

Your chosen author's main skill should be the ability to explain difficult concepts so that anyone could understand these. This is one of the reasons why actual engineers aren't always the best choice. They might rely on jargon and might assume that the reader knows what they're talking about. Someone whose specialty is words, however, will be able to place themselves in the shoes of the reader who knows nothing about the subject and will find the simplest ways to get the message across.

It's very important that the members of your team will know how to do research. Moreover, they should be prepared to do so and be willing to learn something new. They shouldn't just accept what one source says as fact but should cross-check different sources. If they can find ways to understand the different concepts, they'll be better able to explain these concepts in a way that will make it easier for their readers to grasp too.

Editors naturally need to be excellent at going through texts and correcting grammar and spelling. They should also be able to restructure sentences or even entire paragraphs to make the text as readable as possible. However, you can shave weeks off the production process by choosing an author who pays attention to spelling, grammar and structure too, since the editor will be able to get through the text more quickly. In addition, light edits cost much less than rewrites of texts.

With a highly specialized text such as one aimed at engineers, quality control is essential. Someone needs to check not only that the right materials are mentioned but also the right measurements and calculations. After all, if someone were to try and construct something while using text full of mistakes, the construction would collapse. Therefore, once the text has been edited, it's a good idea to send it to a group of engineers to review.

Finding writers and editors with the right background can be done by contacting specialist employment agencies or websites. However, you need to thoroughly check the candidates' background and experience. Don't be afraid to ask for references and for samples of their work. Professionals won't be offended but will gladly provide these.

Also remember that professional language practitioners won't work for rates that are far below average. Therefore, ensure that your budget allows for market-related remuneration. Be realistic about the time frame in which to complete the project too. Taking a little more time will produce a better end product.




About the Author:



Brak komentarzy:

Prześlij komentarz