“You can’t sell the software without the documentation!” says Helen Shukla, Founder Director of The Writers Block (TWB), a technical communication and publishing services provider based in the city.

‘Technical documentation’ may sound like a complicated term but according to Shukla, who has been in this field for over 21 years, it is merely about putting yourself in the shoes of the user. “Every software is directed at a target user and one has to cater to their specific requirements while documentation,” she says.

Prior to TWB, Shukla was Head of Knowledge Management at SAP Labs, India. A wife and homemaker as well as a professional she spoke to Deccan Herald about her goal to create high awareness of technical writing as a career option and build a community of quality technical writers in India.

Excerpts from an interview:

Tell us about The Writers Block.
The Writers Block (TWB) is Asia’s leading technical communication and publishing services provider and caters to the needs of technology and process-driven industries. It was founded in 2005 with the main objective of providing world-class Technical Documentation Outsourcing and Training Services to suit the demands of technology companies.

What qualifications does one need to be a technical writer?
A technical writer must have a good knowledge of the English language and grammar, excellent communication, comprehension and listening skills, and comfort with specialised software tools.  Traditionally, technical writers in India have been trained on-the-job, whereas a significant number of universities in the USA offer various degree programmes in technical writing. The lack of a comprehensive training programme for technical writers is being addressed by companies such The Writers Block.

How did you get into the field of technical writing?
After my certification at Aptech, I began my career as a software programmer. During my first job, besides actually programming software applications, I also had the opportunity to interact with customers for understanding business requirements, preparing documentation including training the customer on the solution.
After working on various projects, I  chose to combine my strengths of communication, the English language and software background.

Are you married? How do you balance work with home?
I am married and continuously work at balancing office and home life. I love my home as much as I enjoy my work so the motivation is high (smiles). Yes, I am constantly practicing my time management skills and prioritizing during the day. Work, home, exercise, family and friends are the main focus of my life and I work hard at keeping it that way as much as possible.

What is the ratio of women to men in this field? Is this a viable career option for women?
Technical writing as a career option is equally appealing to men and women. Men find it interesting because they get to write about technology, gadgets, etc and many of them are very good at it.   Going by our experience, the ratio of men to women in this profession is 4:6 - in favour of women. Women make good technical writers and companies are happier to employ them.  Most women find writing to be interesting and have the patience to work things from the user perspective. 

Helen Shukla can be contacted               at 65681986