Council's Corner

Fellow technical writers, 

Last year, a quick LinkedIn search showed about 35,000 technical writers in India. Today, that same  search shows over 1,69,000. A powerful sign of our community’s growth and importance. We are no  longer just an extension; we are the epicenter of the global technical writing teams. Together, we represent a critical mass that meets industry needs and shapes the future of Technical Writing. 

The growth in numbers, roles, and contributions stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of this community. The STC India Admin Councils of the past have done a fantastic job addressing the evolving needs of our community. Following in their footsteps, our current STC India Admin council reached out to leaders and SMEs across India to identify the most pressing needs. This year, STC India will focus on three core pillars: Connecting, Learning, and Celebrating. 

Connecting: Bringing People Together in Every Way 

With the growth of our community, expectations among Indian technical writers have evolved significantly. Our members, ranging from emerging writers to seasoned leaders, have diverse needs and unique preferences on ways of engaging, learning, and networking. 

To support this, we’re launching a comprehensive range of events, from our flagship annual conference to city-specific meetups, conclaves, and retreats. Our blend of online and offline events includes hands-on workshops, panel discussions, expert presentations, and other innovative formats. The goal is simple: to make it easier than ever for every member to find an event that suits them. 

Learning: The New Charter 

With the demand for technical writers on the rise, more strategic work being undertaken, and more senior roles based in India, continuous learning is more essential than ever. To meet this need, we’re introducing a dedicated Learning Charter. By collaborating with global subject matter experts (SMEs), we are bringing top-tier training and certification that blends the latest industry knowledge with practical application. These offerings are available through open sessions for everyone and focused corporate workshops for teams. And, as a nonprofit, we can offer these courses at accessible prices, keeping costs low while maintaining high-quality content. 

If you’re wondering, “What’s in it for me?” consider this: as a practitioner, you can earn  certifications, master new skills, or gain validation in your field. If you’re an SME, you have the opportunity to drive a certification with us, sharing your expertise on a national scale. Organizations, too, can benefit from cost-effective training options, with the ability to plan a full year of learning tailored to their needs. 

Celebrating: Technical Writing Excellence Awards 

With more technical writing work happening in India than ever before, it’s time to spotlight the exceptional talent and work. Winning an award provides a valuable opportunity to showcase your skills and innovations on a global platform, gaining visibility for both your accomplishments and our community’s talent on the world stage. 

The Technical Writing Excellence Awards recognize outstanding projects, people, work, processes, innovation, and excellence. The recent nominations have only strengthened my excitement and commitment to the potential of these awards. 

Preparing for a Transformative Future 

The latest advancements in technology bring potential for transformation that is bigger, faster, and deeper than anything we’ve seen before. These shifts require us to expand our skills and stay adaptable. Now more than ever, continuous learning is essential for every technical writer who wants to remain at the forefront of the industry. 

So, if you’re ready to engage, connect, and grow with us, do reach out. Let’s make the most of the  resources, platforms, and opportunities STC India offers. Together, we’ll lead the future of technical writing with purpose, passion, and collaboration. 

Best wishes,  

Sachin Shenoy
President, STC India 

Friends,

I am honored to connect with you and share some of what’s on my mind for upskilling our community of Technical Communicators in India. Going beyond the advantage of co-location and cost, our teams in India are playing an increasingly critical role in the success of customer adoption for many businesses. We’re no longer solely focused on documentation or manual writing; instead, we’re becoming essential contributors to user experience, product success, and cross-functional communication within our organizations. This shift opens exciting doors but also brings a call to action: the need to continually expand our skill sets and deepen our knowledge.

The demand for new competencies in areas like information architecture, user experience writing, developer documentation, and AI-fueled content strategy has made ongoing education critical. By investing time in upskilling, we are not only strengthening our own careers but also enhancing the value we bring to our teams and end users. Staying current with emerging trends and technologies in technical communication enables us to provide clearer, more efficient, and impactful content that serves our users better.

STC India is committed to supporting you in this journey. This year, we are increasing our focus on professional development through certification courses by top-notch experts in these areas. We encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities to grow alongside the field.

We hope to inspire a culture of continuous learning through our platform. Whether you are just starting out or have decades of experience, upskilling isn’t optional anymore. Upskill to survive, upskill to thrive!

Thanks,

 Paresh

VP and Head of Learning
STC India Chapter

As a first-time admin council member, I must say I am overwhelmed by the body of work that STC India has done so far. A big appreciation to all council members who set the stage and led the way to build an exceptional community.

As I take on as the secretary this year, I am excited about the vision of the organization now and the coming years. This year’s summit is just the start of all good things.

Technical writers are indispensable to creating a seamless product experience. We are no longer simply creators of documentation—we are integral to the product adoption journey. Well-crafted user assistance can make all the difference in ensuring that users don’t just use the product but thrive with it.

Our work ensures users can understand, navigate, and fully benefit from the product. While we craft clear, concise documentation that empowers users, our contributions often go unnoticed—until something goes wrong. What we do may seem routine, but without it, users would struggle. We are the unsung heroes of the customer experience, quietly enabling success with every word we write—often without true acknowledgment of the immense background work it takes to connect the dots and bring the entire documentation together.

This year, we’ve taken an important step to change that. The awards instituted this year are designed to give recognition of talent and years of experience that often goes without a spotlight. These awards are an opportunity to honor the technical writing community and showcase the impact of the experiences we help create. Winning or being nominated isn’t just about recognition—it’s about acknowledging the skill it takes to collaborate across cross-functional teams, to understand user needs, and to create documentation that elevates the overall experience.

We are thrilled with the number of nominations we’ve received, and it’s clear that the level of talent within our community is exceptional. But as we know, there are thousands of technical writers across India, and we've only begun to scratch the surface. Right now, we’ve gathered only a few stars in an expansive night sky. But I hope that in future summits, we can expand that constellation and fill the sky with the voices and accomplishments of many more technical writers. I look forward to the day when even more of you have the platform to showcase your incredible work and receive the recognition you truly deserve.

These awards are a step toward ensuring that technical writing is seen and valued at the industry level. It’s about shining a light on the work we do—recognizing not only our ability to create content but also our ability to collaborate and deliver meaningful experiences that help users succeed.

Thank you for everything you do, and let’s continue to grow, celebrate, and recognize the talent within our community.

Best,

Lakshmi Krishna Jois

Secretary
STC India Chapter