My story is about the challenges and gaps identified during my journey in technical writing and helping my community through Tech Writer’s Tribe.

In the early 2000s, I was passionate about working in journalism and the social sector, but they often lacked decent salaries. With the IT field emerging as a promising sector known for better pay and career growth, I began wondering if there was a role for writers in it. After much effort and inquiry, I discovered the field of technical writing.

The Beginning

I jumped into technical writing, only to find that companies were as clueless about my role as I was about how to grow in it. As the first technical writer at my first workplace, I found myself surrounded by developers, testers, and web designers, all of whom were unfamiliar with my work. I was in dire need of guidance. 

Finding a Community

After some effort, I discovered the Yahoo mailing list of TWIN and learned about the annual conferences organized by the Society for Technical Communication (STC). With peers around, my learning accelerated, and my career took the right path. Experience gained in multiple companies across different cities in India helped me progress from a junior to a senior individual contributor and eventually to leadership roles such as Manager and Director over two decades.

Common Challenges

My story is not unique; many technical writers in India and abroad have faced similar challenges. The industry has grown, but the challenges for beginners and seniors alike have persisted. Common issues include the lack of opportunities to innovate, grow, and tackle daily challenges that cross-functional teams face in small and large companies. Many of us fought these battles alone and survived with pride.

The Turning Point

From 2003 to 2020, the number of technical writers grew as the industry expanded. However, the challenges remained. Besides the conferences of STC, there were sometimes annual conferences organized by other groups, such as TC World.

The rising number of professionals required more opportunities to interact. I often wondered what would happen if these lone fighters could share a platform to discuss challenges and solutions regularly. Would it help the existing professionals and ease the entry of newcomers? Would it lead to better recognition from cross-functional team members? Above all, would it help the companies realize the true potential of technical writing?

The Birth of Tech Writer’s Tribe

The answer came during the COVID-19 pandemic, a turning point in world history. With everyone at home and working remotely, the need for regular interaction became more prominent. The power of collaboration was needed more than ever, but it would only work if people joined hands for a common goal to interact and share information, their pains, and gains regularly.

In 2020, Tech Writer’s Tribe emerged from the ruins of the pandemic. This platform helped many writers share their knowledge, challenges, and solutions. It cared for those who needed help and prepared those who wanted to enter or grow in this niche field.

Building the Community

The Power of One in Action

The power of one began yielding results as contributions from many writers gave the community the wheel everyone sought. This wheel, driven by both seekers and givers, proved more effective than a search engine, offering quick answers spiced with personal experience. It helped start a mutual growth chain, truly embodying the spirit of technical writers, by technical writers, and for technical writers.

The Power of One begins with YOU—the person who takes the first step, who dares to initiate, to believe in the potential of a vision. It grows when like-minded people join hands. That’s what happened in my journey: 1 became 11, then 111, and then there was no looking back. With each new one, we didn’t just add numbers; we sparked a transformation, building a vibrant, supportive community for technical writers.

If you believe in the power of community, I hope my journey inspires you to find the ONE within yourself—to take that first step, contribute to the community however you can, and then watch how you can create something magical.