FAQs

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

DO MEMBERS GET EXPERIENCE WITH TECHNICAL WRITING TOOLS?

Yes! We use a few “gold standards” for technical writers like:
  • Snagit
  • Confluence
We also leverage Salesforce, Microsoft's Word, and Canva.
(All applications are free to use or free to try.)

We would love to introduce a more sophisticated technical writing tool than Microsoft’s Word, but these tools might take weeks to learn before we could use them for this course.

 

DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS?

Yes, but you must finish the work in the course first and ask within 60 days of signing up.

Just send me an email at bobby AT becometechnicalwriter.com

 

WILL I GET A JOB IF I TAKE YOUR COURSE?

While we cannot guarantee a job, we believe this course offers you a better shot at a position than any other basic course. It’s why this course is named “Become a Technical Writer.”

If you can move for a job, even better. Employment is best in major metro areas.
We have a "forever" meeting every Thursday evening for all members to support the job search.
 
 

WHEN CAN I SIGN UP AND GET STARTED ON A COURSE?

New courses start monthly. Pre-register now.

After the kickoff, lessons proceed in a “drip” manner. When you’ve finished a lesson, just click to advance to the next.

 

DOES THIS COURSE INCLUDE BUILDING A PORTFOLIO?

The BASIC course does not include a portfolio.
The INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED COURSES do.

 

DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?

Yes! You can pay in installments.
 

WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?

We accept all major debit or credit cards and PayPal.

 

DO I GET A CERTIFICATE WHEN I COMPLETE THE COURSE?

Assuming you do the work and it’s done satisfactorily (first drafts are rarely satisfactory!), you’ll get a course certificate. There’s no “failing” this course in the traditional sense of the word. There are no limits on how often you can try to get the work done well.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE COURSE FEE?

Each course includes:
  • Lifetime access to the course platform (Self-paced course materials with exercises, document creation, and portfolio building.)
  • Lifetime access to Slack (messaging app)
  • Lifetime access to a members-only private forum
  • 1 or 2 (depending on the course) x 30-minutes face-to-face time with your instructor
  • Direct, responsive feedback from your instructor
  • Course certificate of proficiency upon successful completion.
Also: lifetime access to our weekly forever meeting.

Assuming you do the work and it’s done satisfactorily (first drafts are rarely satisfactory!), you’ll get a course certificate. There’s no “failing” this course in the traditional sense of the word. There are no limits on how often you can try to get the work done well.

 

ARE THERE DEADLINES?

There are none. You can go entirely at your own pace. Someone with enough free time can finish a course in a couple of weeks. Someone else with less time might need six or seven weeks to complete a course.

You enjoy lifetime access to the materials after your payment.

 

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DOES THE COURSE TAKE?

You should plan on spending about 6 hours per week on each course.

 

IS THIS SELF-PACED OR TAUGHT BY AN INSTRUCTOR?

It's both. This hybrid model begins with a class directed by an instructor. Some members finish in a month.
Some take longer.
  • Weekly study halls help with each module (attendance is optional). 
  • You dictate your pace. If you can finish a module a week, great.
  • Your instructor checks everything you complete, from exercises, documents, to your portfolio.

 

ARE THERE ANY PREREQUISITES FOR THE COURSES?

Strictly, no. But you should:
  • be fluent in English and have basic writing skills.
  • be able to have fun while learning new tools. You can’t break them or damage anything. It’s fun to play around before you have to get serious.
  • be able to make goofy, even stupid mistakes without judging yourself harshly. This is an essential attitude for learning new skills.
  • know what technical writing is about. You can read “Most Technical Writing is Neither” by shooting us an email at bobby AT becometechnicalwriter.com. He’ll send you a “friend link” (so you don’t have to pay).

To improve your knowledge of technical writing in today’s world, follow two active forums: Reddit and “Write the Docs.” You can find the subreddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/technicalwriting/. Write the docs is found at https://www.writethedocs.org/slack/ (it’s a Slack channel).

 

 

WHY CHOOSE THESE COURSES?

These are a different breed of online courses.

 

They focus on exercising knowledge — doing exercises, creating documents, and building a portfolio (INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED). These courses are “lean” and not full of theoretical or abstract knowledge.
  • Other courses begin by copying available material in existing courses and stuffing your head with information that may or may not apply to get started as a technical writer.
  • Other courses have instructors who do not offer anywhere near the accessibility our instructor offers. These include face-to-face meetings and a weekly Zoom “study hall” where you can show up and ask questions about the course or technical writing.
And weekly meetings (on Thursday evenings) that have no expiration!

 

These courses offer:
  • A lesson plan designed and built by an expert professional with end clients like Verizon Wireless, PwC, and Dow Jones.
  • A great lean foundation in technical writing with no stuffing or filler.
  • Lifetime access to the course platform.
  • Responsive and constructive feedback from your instructor on exercises, documents, and your portfolio. There’s never a "put down" for messing up. Indeed, messing up is essential to learning!
  • The essential confidence you need to succeed as a technical writer today. Not ten or twenty years ago!
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