FAQs

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

DO MEMBERS GET EXPERIENCE WITH TECHNICAL WRITING TOOLS?

Yes! We use a few tools which are “gold standards” for technical writers:
  • Snagit
  • Confluence
  • Salesforce
We also use MS Word and Canva.

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! We offer a 60-day refund for anyone who does the work and feels ill-prepared to work as a technical writer. Just send your instructor an email requesting a refund (60 days after signing up).

 

HOW MUCH DOES THE COURSE COST?

Beginning June 16, the course fee increases to $589.00

This is twice the fee when it began in 2020. As we add more modules and this course becomes more popular, this fee will probably rise.

 

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 meeting every Thursday evening for all members to support the job search.
 
 

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

Today! We've become fully asynchronous -- the course is entirely self-paced.
We've got regular weekly meetings to support your journey.

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?

Yes! This is included in the Marketing section. You’ve got to do the work, but by the fifth module your confidence should be higher and hopefully, it won’t feel like a burden (more like fun).

 

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?

This course includes:
  • Lifetime access to the course platform (Self-paced course materials with exercises, document creation, and portfolio building.)
  • Lifetime access to NiftyPM (project management platform)
  • Lifetime access to a members-only private forum
  • 2 x 30-minutes face-to-face time with your instructor
  • Direct, responsive feedback from your instructor
  • Live Interviewing practice
  • Course certificate of proficiency upon successful completion.
Also: lifetime access to our weekly Job Search networking.

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 the course in three weeks or less. Someone else with less time might need six or seven weeks to complete.

You enjoy lifetime access to the materials after your payment.

 

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DOES THE COURSE TAKE?

There are 6 modules of increasing difficulty until module 4 (the documents). You can view each module and time estimated here: https://becometechnicalwriter.com/the-course/

Module 4 is by far the most involved. It can take a few hours.

 

IS THIS SELF-PACED OR TAUGHT BY AN INSTRUCTOR?

This course is self-guided but accompanied by weekly study halls to help out with each module (attendance is optional). The last module “Interviewing” features practice interviews, which is live and guided by your instructor.
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@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 can be found at https://www.writethedocs.org/slack/ (it’s a Slack channel).

 

 

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

This is a different breed of course. It was built over many months by a veteran technical writer who worked for blue-chip companies in New York for over twenty years. Then it was vetted against the latest standards, practices, and tools. It was beta tested with 18 users before it was released to the public.

 

This course focuses on exercising knowledge — doing exercises, creating documents, and building a portfolio. This course is “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 be relevant to get started as a technical writer.

 

Other courses have instructors who do not offer anywhere near the accessibility our instructor offers. These include 2×30 minute face-to-face meetings and a weekly Zoom “study hall” where you can show up and ask questions about the course or technical writing generally.

 

And weekly Job Networking meetings that have no expiration!

 

This course offers:
  • 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 both the course platform and NiftyPM, a professional project management application.
  • Hands-on, real-world experience building documents and creating a portfolio
  • Modules on marketing and interviewing with live practice interviews.
  • 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!
Scroll to Top