how to write good technical articles

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Posted on Feb 12, 2023 • Updated on Feb 14, 2023

Technical Writing Process: How To Write A Good Technical Article

In 2021, I joined technical writing, where I have written close to 20 paid technical articles and made more than $6K online.

From my experience, writing a good technical article is not a walk in the park. A good technical article is an article that breaks down complex concepts into simple and easy-to-understand language.

As a technical writer, to break down complex concepts into a simple and easy-to-understand language, you need to:

• First, understand the topic you are writing about.
• Second, know the audience you are writing for.
• Third, know how to structure an article to deliver your message to your reader.
• Finally, Know how to use the right voice and tone in your writing.

To do all the above, you need a good technical writing process.

In this article, you will learn about the technical writing process I use to write better technical articles for my clients.

Here are the steps in the technical writing process that I will be covering:

• Step 1: Research.
• Step 2: Prepare to write.
• Step 3: Write the first draft.
• Step 4: Review.
• Step 5: Editing.
• Step 6: Approval and publishing.

Step 1: Research

Firstly, do a google search of the topic you are writing about and review articles related to the topic. As you review the articles, take notes to get a better understanding of the topic.

Also, you can ask ChatGPT about the topic. Then compare the information you get from ChatGPT to the information you got from Google search.

For example, I started working on a new topic for a client technical article this week. Here are the notes I took while researching the topic.

Note: You need to compare information from ChatGPT with information from Google search because ChatGPT can sometimes provide inaccurate information.

Secondly, determine the format and structure of the topic you will be writing about.

Types Of Article Structures

There are two types of technical articles in technical blog writing.

• Procedural Articles: These articles walk the reader through accomplishing a task step-by-step.
• Conceptual Articles: These articles help readers understand the topic deeply and build a foundation for further learning.

Below are different different structures of the articles.

Thirdly, identify the target audience of the topic you will be writing about.

The simplest way to identify your target audience is by determining what your audience needs to learn.

Write down a list of everything your target audience needs to learn in the technical article you will be writing.

Step 2: Prepare To Write

Firstly, determine the objective or aim for the article you will be writing.

Identifying your audience in step one will help you determine the article's objective.

The article's objective can be to help the reader learn something or solve a problem.

Here is an example of an article objective.

Secondly, create an article outline.

An outline, in simple terms, is a skeleton of a finished piece of writing that maps the topics you will cover in an article.

An outline provides a structure that ensures your ideas flow logically and clearly.

Determining article format and structure in step one will help you create an article outline.

For example, here is an outline of an article I wrote for the DbVisualizer blog.

Note: After determining the article's objective and creating an outline, if it is client's work, you can send the article to the client to get feedback to ensure you are on the same page.

Step 3: Write The First Draft

Firstly, include the goal of the article in the title. Below is how a label can be formatted,

Title Format

How To With < Software or Technology>

How To Create A Calculator With JavaScript

Secondly, start writing the article introduction. The introduction of every article should have 1 to 3 paragraphs.

Questions a good intro should answer

• What is the problem being addressed?
• What is the solution to this problem?
• What will the reader learn?

Thirdly, write the prerequisites. The purpose of prerequisites is to spell out  exactly what the reader should have or do before they follow the current tutorial.

The format is a list that the reader can use as a checklist. Each point must link to an existing tutorial that covers the necessary content or the official software documentation.

This allows you to rely on existing content known to work instead of starting from scratch.

Fourthly, start writing the article body in steps. The steps are the parts of your article where you describe what the reader needs to do and why.

A step contains commands, code listings, and files explaining  what to do  and  why you're doing it this way.

Lastly, write the article's conclusion. The article's conclusion should summarize what the reader has learned or accomplished by following your tutorial.

Step 4: First Draft Review

After writing the first draft, send it to the client, subject matter expert, or someone with good knowledge of the topic you are writing about for review.

Having the draft reviewed by the client or subject matter expert ensures that the article is technically accurate and meets the article's objective.

Step 5: Edit And Revise

Editing and revising is where you shape the reviewed draft into a final draft. Make sure that you take a break between writing and editing. Taking a break will enable you to view your work with fresh eyes.

You can use tools like Grammarly in the editing process to check spelling, grammar, style, and punctuation mistakes.

Step 6: Proofreading And Approval Of Final Draft

Proofreading your final draft is when you have finished your writing but are not ready to publish it or hand it to your client for approval.

Here you go through your article to catch:

• Any spelling mistakes
• Grammar errors
• Formatting errors
• Incorrect structure or syntax

After proofreading the final draft, send it to the client for last review and approval.

Step 7: Publish The Finished Article

The client will publish the article if no more changes to be made to the final draft. If it is a personal article, you can post it on your blog or free blogging platforms for developers like:

You have learned how to write a good technical article step-by-step in this article. If you liked the article, follow me on Twitter for daily tips on technical writing.

https://twitter.com/The_GreatBonnie

Top comments (24)

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• Location Sri Lanka
• Joined Jan 11, 2023

Awesome! Thanks for sharing this information. These are great points to focus on when writing, especially in a developer community like Dev.to. Clarity, conciseness, and relevance are key to delivering valuable and impactful messages. By sharing your knowledge and experiences, you can help others grow and succeed, and establish yourself as a leader in the tech community. Thanks again for the insight!

• Email [email protected]
• Joined Dec 27, 2020

You are welcome.

Looking forward to creating even better content.

• Location Toronto
• Work Rails and forn-end developer and technical writer.
• Joined Apr 1, 2020

Great content you have here Boonie!

As a developer, I never thought I would become a writer, but I have always enjoyed teaching, mentoring, and sharing content with others in various formats. It wasn't until recently that a client approached me after seeing my writing on Dev.io or my website and asked me to write for them in a similar style. To be honest, I was initially surprised but then realized that I had been doing this for years, nothing new here, just never publishing it. It's simply a new format with different processes.

I have read some of your work , and I must say that it is excellent. I really like your style and the value you provide.

If it is possible, I would appreciate your insights on how you structure and base your compensation, as well as any advice you have on negotiations.

Note: I have tried to download your content from Gumroad but it doesn't work. Not sure why!

This is awesome.

Send me a Twitter DM.

twitter.com/The_GreatBonnie

• Email [email protected]
• Location Zurich, Switzerland
• Pronouns he/him
• Work Microsoft 365 Architect
• Joined Jun 22, 2018

At the moment I follow 50-60% of these steps... I will try with the next one to follow as much as I can.

That's awesome.

All the best in your next article.

Hope it turns out well.

• Email [email protected]
• Work Full Stack Developer
• Joined Dec 23, 2022

• Education Nigeria
• Work Student
• Joined Oct 18, 2022

Insightful. Thanks for sharing

• Email [email protected]
• Education Federal university of Technology Minna
• Pronouns He
• Work Searching for Technical writing jobs/ opportunity
• Joined Oct 30, 2022

Thanks for sharing Bonnie

You are welcome, Abdulsalaam.

• Location Tustin, California
• Education Harvey Mudd College
• Work Chief Mod/Sim Engineer
• Joined Dec 20, 2019

Good stuff, and I wish we wrote (and talked!) a lot more about this topic.

One useful tip I would offer is, 1) set a limit; 2) deliberately overshoot; and 3) budget at least 50% for editing the overshoot into the limit. Let's say you 1) set a goal of writing a six-pager (or 3000 words). Then you should 2) deliberately try and write (let's say overshooting by half) nine pages (or 4500 words). Lastly, 3) spend half your overall time limit editing from 4500 to 3000 words.

Open-ended writing is a curse, and editing/distilling is where the real magic lies anyway. One excellent resource I can recommend: youtube.com/watch?v=vtIzMaLkCaM

• Location Ireland, Northern Ireland, Germany, Spain and Portugal
• Education BTEC Nation Diploma in Computer Studies, BA with Hons in Artificial Intelligence
• Work None at Nowhere
• Joined Dec 17, 2019

Wise words. Although that last drop from 4500 to 3000 is tough!

Aside, say writing for Kodeco you are aiming for max 4k, but can overshoot if absolutely needed.

Readers patience / attention will wander the longer you go on though.

Basically, don’t be a recipe article (aka tons of flowery exposition … sure put your personality in but readers don’t care if Your cat looks like a ball); try and hit your point in as few words as possible but with context.

(He says being flowery)

• Location Quito, Ecuador
• Work Developer at independent
• Joined Jan 21, 2023

I have just started writing a technical blog, and from my next post on will try to follow the steps you describe

Looking forward to see what you come up with.

• Joined Feb 12, 2023

I started writing articles on my blog and some other platforms, I will try to follow these steps from now on.

Good to hear that, Syed.

All the best in your writing process.

• Location Assisi, Italy
• Work Senior Full-Stack Software Developer
• Joined Nov 10, 2021

Thank you! In recently time I started to get interested about a write tech articles. I always read, I always follow tutorial, I always check on StackOverflow and now I think that It is correct to share some of my knowledge! So Thank you! 😁

• Location Lagos, Nigeria
• Work Sparkle Microfinance Bank
• Joined Sep 19, 2021

Thanks for this information, really helps. How do we deal with article lengths?

• Education University of Central Florida
• Joined Nov 21, 2022

Also recommend this post: diataxis.fr "A systematic framework for technical documentation authoring."

• Email [email protected]
• Location Argentina
• Education UNaM (FCEQyN)
• Joined Jun 9, 2022

This is really good, I'll use this format because it's really well structured and clear.

• Location London
• Work Data Analyst at London
• Joined Nov 24, 2019

Great! Where do you find those Gigi’s?

• Location Kitchener, Canada
• Education University of Pretoria, Conestoga College
• Pronouns She / Her
• Work Web developer at Studio Locale
• Joined Dec 8, 2021

This was a very helpful breakdown. Thank you!

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The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Good Technical Articles

Author: team wh, published on: 19-06-23, last updated on: 11-12-23, estimated reading time: 5 minutes.

Are your technical articles lacking the spark needed to grab readers’ attention? Do you want to make your technical article writing more interesting and captivating?

In this blog, we’ll give the best advice for improving your technical articles .

We know that technical writing occasionally receives a bad rap for being dull, difficult, and boring. But don’t worry, we will take you on a journey that can turn dry technical articles into fascinating stories of learning and discovery. We can help you understand your audience and demystify difficult ideas. Let’s dive right in!

What is Technical Writing?

To start writing tech articles that are clear and concise, you need to understand what technical writing is. It is the art of taking complex technical information that we usually find in our hands after buying a new gadget and converting it into easy and understandable text.

Imagine you just bought a brand-new gadget but cannot operate it because you cannot comprehend the technical jargon. That’s where a technical writer comes to your rescue. They have the superpower to break down complex information and guide you through the setup process step-by-step.

Be it user manuals, user guides, FAQs, or engaging technical blogs, technical writers capture the reader’s interest with just a few words.

From here on, we will explore the important factors of technical writing and tips on how to write a good technical article .

The 5 Cs of Technical Writing

The 5 Cs of technical writing can be your guiding light when crafting effective writing in technical writing . Let’s delve right into the 5 Cs, considered the holy grail of technical writing.

The first C is all about clarity. Clarifying your ideas is the first step in technical writing because the goal is to make complex concepts understandable. Make sure you are well familiar with the subject before you even begin to tap on your keyboard.

The best way is to divide the piece into manageable sections and arrange your ideas logically. Make your audience understand what you want to say without ruining the flow of the article.

Nobody wants to slog through a never-ending sea of words. Get right to the point quickly and be concise. Remove the fluff and focus on the crucial details.

Keep your sentences short and straightforward so readers don’t get confused. Choose concise, powerful statements that make an impact.

Ah, the value of correctness! Ensure your data and information are accurate and reliable because technical papers demand it. Run your article through rigorous verification before you launch it to the public.

4. Complete

Don’t leave your audience hanging! Cliffhangers in technical writing are a big no-no. Make sure your article addresses every pertinent fact about the topic it is explaining.

Start with a clear, thorough introduction, go into the pertinent details, and continue the article from a problem-solving point of view. The art of technical article writing is a whole unit with no loose ends.

5. Coherence

Your article’s coherence is a glue to keep everything together. Ensure that ideas flow seamlessly into one another.

Make a fluid narrative that smoothly leads readers through the content. Remember that your audience can become confused and frustrated by a disorganised tangle of disparate concepts. One way to keep them engaged is with smooth transition lines.

The Writing Process of a Pro

All good writers have a proper writing process that helps them stay relevant within their domain. Same for the technical writing too! Let’s see what each stage of the technical writing includes:

• Purpose of the article
• Identify audience
• Brainstorming
• Research on the topic
• Write the first draft
• Continue research and include important facts
• Review/Edit
• Consult with subject matter expert
• Customer review
• Final proofreading
• Deliver to client

Top Tips to Make Your Technical Article Writing More Interesting

1. capture your reader’s interest.

Research your target audience thoroughly to learn more about their interests and pain points. Establish a stronger connection with them, and adjust your writing style and tone accordingly.

2. Pick a Captivating Subject

For your technical article, pick a topic that is both current and interesting. Consider many angles and viewpoints to approach the subject in a novel and compelling way. Create an eye-grabbing headline that catches readers’ attention right away.

3. Create an Entertaining Introduction

Grab readers’ attention with an intriguing hook sentence that ignites their curiosity. Create interest in the issue or topic right at the start to make your audience understand that the article will address a problem.

4. Simplify Complex Ideas

Translate technical jargon into plain language. Use analogies, practical examples, and visuals like diagrams to improve comprehension and make difficult concepts understandable to a larger audience.

5. Tell a Story

Include stories, case studies, or real-world applications to make your technical content approachable and interesting. Stories captivate audiences, evoke feelings in readers, and enable personal connections between the reader and the content.

6. Include Interactive Elements

Add quizzes, polls, or interactive activities to your content to make it more dynamic and interesting. Embed videos or other multimedia to provide visual and audio interest and improve the reading experience overall.

7. Include Visual Elements

To break up the content and make the article more visually engaging, use appealing photos, charts, and infographics. To make the material more readable, arrange it in a clear, digestible manner.

8. Make Your Article More Skimmable

Divide your content into manageable sections or subheadings to make it simpler for readers to explore and get the information they need. To make important information stand out and skimming easier, use bullet points, numbered lists, and tables to make the reader’s job easier.

9. Add a Personal Touch

Add a distinctive voice and style that reflect your personality in your writing. Connect with your readers by including personal stories or experiences in your writing.

10. Editing and Proofreading

Editing and proofreading your work can elevate your writing to a new level. Proofreading is not only limited to correct spelling and grammar but good punctuation too. Punctuation in the wrong place can make or break the meaning of your sentence.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, incorporating these top tips can make your technical article writing exciting and engaging. With these strategies in your arsenal, you can leave a lasting impression on your readers by writing high-quality technical articles. So, let your words simplify all technical jargon that needs to be explained in layman’s language.

People Commonly Ask

1. what are the 5 components of technical writing.

The five components of technical writing are:

• Target audience
• Organisation

2. What are some characteristics of good technical writing?

An excellent technical writing piece will be:

• Informative

3. What are the basic types of technical writing?

The basic types of technical writing are:

• Medical papers
• User manuals
• Assembly manuals
• Technical reviews
• Technical reports

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Customer acquisition is integral for every marketing strategy to build your brand and reach a broader section of your target audience. However, it is inadvisable to execute acquisition strategies at the cost of nurturing existing users. A delicate balance between customer acquisition and retention strategies is crucial to make the most out of your email… Continue reading Top 5 Actionable Email Marketing Strategies for Existing Customers

A Complete Guide on How to Do SEO for Ecommerce Website

Did you know that 63% of all shopping ventures begin online? With such a high demand from online shoppers, the ecommerce business industry is on the rise. As an online store owner, you might have done everything to make your products functional and catchy. From the right designs to advertising and promotions, the strategies seem… Continue reading A Complete Guide on How to Do SEO for Ecommerce Website

The Blogging Dilemma: How Often Should You Blog for SEO?

As marketers try to leverage blog marketing, you may wonder if this would mean spending countless hours preparing content. It leads to the question of how often should you blog for SEO. You are in the right place if you are searching for the right blog post frequency. To help you up your SEO game,… Continue reading The Blogging Dilemma: How Often Should You Blog for SEO?

Must-Know LinkedIn Algorithm Updates in 2023

With over 930 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is one of the largest business-social media platforms ever. But with so many users and constantly changing guidelines, it can be difficult to win the LinkedIn algorithm and grab your target audiences’ attention. But can it be done? Absolutely! In a survey by eMarketer, 40% of B2B marketers… Continue reading Must-Know LinkedIn Algorithm Updates in 2023

AI vs Search Engines: What’s the Future of AI Content on SERPs?

The debate about AI-generated content is prevalent as ever. While there have been claims that AI does not have the emotional intelligence to pull off personalised and thought-provoking content, a surprising 12% of businesses are using AI for content creation.   At the same time, popular search engines like Google have not explicitly mentioned being against AI-generated content.… Continue reading AI vs Search Engines: What’s the Future of AI Content on SERPs?

Google March 2023 Core Update Finally Live: Everything We Know So Far

Google makes frequent changes to its search algorithms and automated systems, significantly changing how SERP rankings work. Just recently, the tech giant announced the first Google core update for 2023. Released on March 15, it is the initial phase in a long line of planned patches, all aiming to streamline the user search experience. Now, Google search… Continue reading Google March 2023 Core Update Finally Live: Everything We Know So Far

Gear Up to Use Instagram’s Ultimate Media Kit Option for Better Brand Value

With more than 1.9 billion active daily users, Instagram knows the worth of creators on its platform. Confused why Instagram worries about 50,000 active creators when it has about 2 billion active users?  The answer is simple—business. Instagram takes business very seriously, and currently, it’s focusing on the creators to help bring more business.   Instagram realises… Continue reading Gear Up to Use Instagram’s Ultimate Media Kit Option for Better Brand Value

Reddit Upgrades its Interface and Feed for Improved Customer Experience

Reddit is upgrading the way you navigate your feeds. The social networking community is rolling out a series of changes to make the platform more accessible and customizable. Whether you’re into sports, news, or TV fan theories, you can find a community where you can meet people as obsessed and crazy as you are about… Continue reading Reddit Upgrades its Interface and Feed for Improved Customer Experience

Pinterest Launches Shuffles, An Invite-Only Collage-Making App

Pinterest is bringing another addition to the array of photo-sharing apps on the market, Shuffles. It’s an invite-only photo collage app born from a Pinterest in-house incubator. It’s been exploding in popularity on TikTok among Gen-Z demographics in particular. The app lets users build collages using the Pinterest photo library or by taking photos using their… Continue reading Pinterest Launches Shuffles, An Invite-Only Collage-Making App

Instagram’s Candid Challenges Designed for the Gen Z

Before any of us can remember, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter, along with all the other social media platforms, have been stealing each other’s content and features. Nobody even had followers until Twitter came along and coined the term in 2007. Snapchat was the first platform to introduce the concept of “stories,” and now every… Continue reading Instagram’s Candid Challenges Designed for the Gen Z

Thinking Of TV Streaming Services? Get YouTube TV

If you’re thinking of changing your TV streaming service, it’s time to get YouTube TV.  Launched in 2017, the cordless service was introduced as an alternative for traditional cable TV in the USA. It’s currently in discussion with programming partners to introduce a new lineup of streaming channels to upgrade the customer experience and compete… Continue reading Thinking Of TV Streaming Services? Get YouTube TV

Instagram’s Repost Feature: What’s Cooking?

Instagram looks and works the same way as Facebook in almost all its features except one—unlike Facebook, you can’t repost another user’s post on your feed. Of course, you can share the content of public accounts through stories. However, Meta is considering bridging this gap as well.  A social media consultant named Matt Navarra tweeted… Continue reading Instagram’s Repost Feature: What’s Cooking?

Meta Rolls Out Community Chat for Messenger to Encourage Group Discussions

The popularity of real-time group chats has increased since the massive success of Discord. In 2021, Discord’s value stood at $15 billion. This directly hampered Facebook’s popularity and the social media platform’s traffic has been on the decline since February 2021. To compete against Discord and win back its high engagement rates, Meta has introduced… Continue reading Meta Rolls Out Community Chat for Messenger to Encourage Group Discussions

Snapchat To Transform E-Commerce Reality With Expansion In Ar Technology

The $1.07 billion worth photo-messaging app is taking the social commerce market by storm with the introduction of AR tech based tools. In the latest Snap Partner Summit 2022, the brand went ahead to flaunt this feature, which will significantly augment its capabilities. The social commerce app has highlighted how Snap AR shopping has enhanced the… Continue reading Snapchat To Transform E-Commerce Reality With Expansion In Ar Technology

Bring Your Searches to Life with Google’s Multisearch Feature

Since its first public appearance in 2004, the search engine Google has revolutionized the way in which we conduct internet searches. 18 years later, it stands tall as one of the premier FAANG companies in the market. The only reason that Google has been able to adapt to the changing technological landscape is due to… Continue reading Bring Your Searches to Life with Google’s Multisearch Feature

Google Interview Warmup Tool—Yay or Nay?

Feeling nervous before appearing for a job interview? Not anymore! Like other games online, you can now practice being interviewed by a computer. After LinkedIn’s automated interview feedback tool was launched in 2020, Google has developed a similar facility for their users. With advancements in Artificial Intelligence, it is now easier for job-seekers to attempt a mock… Continue reading Google Interview Warmup Tool—Yay or Nay?

Twitter is Winning Hearts With Its New Audio Translation Feature

When it comes to accessing or consuming information on social media platforms, not many companies are mindful of what they offer to people from different spectrums of life. Twitter is going a step ahead with its plans to change the status quo and make the platform more accessible for people with disabilities. In the latest… Continue reading Twitter is Winning Hearts With Its New Audio Translation Feature

IG Reels Get a Facelift: Video Editing Just Got a Whole Lot Easier

Instagram Reels have competed long and hard against TikTok. While IG has benefitted from the ban on TikTok in several big markets like India, the platform still has a long way to go in terms of the benefits it offers users through reels. In that spirit, Meta is trying to get an edge over TikTok… Continue reading IG Reels Get a Facelift: Video Editing Just Got a Whole Lot Easier

YouTube Goes All Things Beauty With A Top-notch Commerce Live Stream

Over the years, YouTube has constantly re-invented and pushed its boundaries. Now, the platform has come with a direct-shopping live commerce stream experience for beauty brands. YouTube has been lately working on live events, which led to the launch of go live together and live shopping last year. The platform also hosted an event, especially for the… Continue reading YouTube Goes All Things Beauty With A Top-notch Commerce Live Stream

Flaunt Your Unique Style with Instagram’s New ‘Pin to Profile’ Feature

Instagram is adding features to open new marketing avenues for online creators and influencers with the latest one being “Pin to Profile”. The social networking service now enables users to pin regular posts and reels with a simple option. You like it? You pin it 📌 You can now choose up to three posts or… Continue reading Flaunt Your Unique Style with Instagram’s New ‘Pin to Profile’ Feature

The Latest Update from Meta: Is the Metaverse Shift any Closer?

The concept of metaverse has been a hot topic ever since Mark Zuckerberg shared his plans for it. Given the limited amount of information released about the concept, people have come up with numerous assumptions about how this space will impact our lives. Zuckerberg had this to say during the initial announcement, “We believe the… Continue reading The Latest Update from Meta: Is the Metaverse Shift any Closer?

The Wait for LinkedIn’s Funny Reaction Might Just Be Over!

For a long time, LinkedIn users have demanded a funny reaction option ever since the platform has seen a surge in funny content. To their surprise, team LinkedIn is now working on expanding its reaction options. According to the company’s Chief Product Officer Tomer Cohen, the platform might soon introduce a laughing emoji. “I wanted to start… Continue reading The Wait for LinkedIn’s Funny Reaction Might Just Be Over!

WhatsApp Welcomes “Communities” for Users to Set Up Organizational Group Chat

Meta-owned WhatsApp announced its plans to extend its fairly limited texting options with the Communities feature. Until now, WhatsApp allowed only 256 participants to build a group. However, the Communities feature will allow much larger groups of people to come together. An unofficial version of the feature made rounds at the end of last year.… Continue reading WhatsApp Welcomes “Communities” for Users to Set Up Organizational Group Chat

Monetise Your Creator Status With Twitter’s New Super Followers Only Spaces Feature

Expanding the world of content, Twitter is now rolling out its new subscriber-only feature to help content creators build a stronger community. With the ‘Super Follower-only Spaces,’ creators can now take one step closer to their following. As of now, this element is only available to a selected bunch of creators. “Now with Super Followers-only… Continue reading Monetise Your Creator Status With Twitter’s New Super Followers Only Spaces Feature

Personalize Your Ad Experience With Google’s Brand New Feature: Here’s All You Need to Know

Do you love consuming your favorite pieces of content on the internet but are constantly disturbed by annoying ads? It happens to the best of us. According to a global Google survey, 69% of people surveyed said that they were motivated to install ad blockers by annoying or intrusive ads. If and when users block all ad contents,… Continue reading Personalize Your Ad Experience With Google’s Brand New Feature: Here’s All You Need to Know

YouTube Announces “Most Replayed” feature—skip to the most popular parts of a video

Have you ever tried to skip to the main parts of a long and boring YouTube video? Well, we have all been there! Thankfully, YouTube has introduced a fantastic feature to save you from all the boredom. It’s called “Most Replayed” and it lets you effortlessly watch the most popular parts of the video. With… Continue reading YouTube Announces “Most Replayed” feature—skip to the most popular parts of a video

Instagram Experimenting with the Following Tab: Indian Users Test Out the New Feature

Ever since Facebook (Meta) acquired Instagram back in 2017, the possibilities for this photo-sharing app have expanded significantly. Now, it has transformed into a multi-media business opportunity for business owners and a career option for many creators. Reels are one of the most promising features for marketers, entrepreneurs, and creators alike. This format has enabled users to… Continue reading Instagram Experimenting with the Following Tab: Indian Users Test Out the New Feature

Ready to Go All-immersive With Instagram Full Screen?

Instagram, the ever-popular social media platform, is shifting its focus to full-screen videos. According to their official source, the team is working to bring videos more ‘front and center’ on the platform. “We’re moving Instagram to a place where the video is a bigger part of the home experience, where content is more immersive,” said… Continue reading Ready to Go All-immersive With Instagram Full Screen?

Did Pinterest secretly launch an exciting new vertical video-streaming TV app?

A creator’s haven, Pinterest, has once again launched an offering with the goal of allowing creators to put out varied content.  Riding on the coattails of the short-form video content offerings such as Tik-Tok and Instagram reels, Pinterest has launched “TV studio.” The app is a spin-off of the already existing Idea Pins feature.  This… Continue reading Did Pinterest secretly launch an exciting new vertical video-streaming TV app?

How to Keep Your Sanity When Working From Home

Working from home might not be the easiest for some of us who have always been in physical offices. However, amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, it is difficult to keep ourselves focused and motivated to work when the bed is just 2 feet away and the Netflix tab so easily accessible. The delights that come with… Continue reading How to Keep Your Sanity When Working From Home

Why Did Chris Evans Almost Turn Down The Role of Captain America?

Can you picture The Avengers without Captain America? For that matter, can you imagine another actor playing the role of Captain America other than Chris Evans? Everyone who knows about the Marvel Universe knows how important Captain America (played by Chris Evans) role is. But did you know our beloved Captain was fighting a storm… Continue reading Why Did Chris Evans Almost Turn Down The Role of Captain America?

The Story Of Power Of Bastila Shan

Powerful women are the heart of the Star Wars universe. Long before Palpatine, Anakin, or even Luke Skywalker walked the galaxy, a woman named Bastila Shan held it in the palm of her hands. Who was this beautiful woman? And what made her so memorable? Are you wondering about what was the story behind this… Continue reading The Story Of Power Of Bastila Shan

Tapping into the Power of Content Marketing for Brand-Building  

In the ever-expanding digital universe, content marketing has emerged as a captivating approach to brand-building. This strategy allows businesses to establish themselves as thought leaders and connect effectively with their target audience by distributing content across multiple platforms. As businesses share insights, they draw inquisitive users towards their online presence, significantly improving brand exposure. That’s… Continue reading Tapping into the Power of Content Marketing for Brand-Building  

Expertise Unleashed: Defining Digital Success for a Leading NBFC 

Content is the cornerstone for brands in the digital sphere. Whether you’re planning to create a thriving presence on search engines, raise awareness on social media, or reach out via mobile advertising, you’ve got to come up with relevant content to achieve the end goal.   Content adds value to your digital presence, giving users a… Continue reading Expertise Unleashed: Defining Digital Success for a Leading NBFC 

Elevating the Brand Presence and Visibility of an Industry Leader

The internet has completely changed how people research products and make purchasing decisions. A decade ago, companies relied on traditional mediums such as print ads to drive sales. However, the internet has made information so broadly accessible today that people can do their own research. That’s why the importance of content marketing and online presence… Continue reading Elevating the Brand Presence and Visibility of an Industry Leader

Elevating a Healthcare Company’s Online Presence with the Power of Content!

In an increasingly digital era, where our first instinct is to turn to the web to look for answers, it’s no surprise the healthcare industry is thriving with content marketing.   From the Mayo Clinic to the Cleveland Clinic, healthcare facilities have developed an online resource centre with thought leadership content that drives relevant traffic, generates… Continue reading Elevating a Healthcare Company’s Online Presence with the Power of Content!

Collaborating with an e-Learning SaaS Startup to Create Content for Educational Courses

The education industry is fast-evolving into a digital ecosystem. The concept of on-demand learning has gained weight. But the prospect of learning whenever and wherever has reduced students’ motivation to complete their learning goals. Students now prefer to learn in bits and pieces rather than everything in one go. This is where Rysecamp seeks to… Continue reading Collaborating with an e-Learning SaaS Startup to Create Content for Educational Courses

Helping the Owner of Three Websites in Securing and Maintaining High Traffic and SERP Ranking

Guest posting is one of the most crucial elements for off-page SEO. It helps in building links and establishing authority for your brand. Putting blogs across popular forums will also bring more traffic to your website. Andras, an entrepreneur and owner of multiple brands, approached our team to help him reap the benefits of guest… Continue reading Helping the Owner of Three Websites in Securing and Maintaining High Traffic and SERP Ranking

Working with a UK-Based Enterprise to Bring them on the Forefront of their Industry

The digital domain holds the key for businesses to scale in their industry. Brands can transform their blog into a trusted resource for industry knowledge, their social media into a lead generation machine, and their email campaigns into a customer engagement funnel. So, when SK Cloud reached out to us to help them establish their… Continue reading Working with a UK-Based Enterprise to Bring them on the Forefront of their Industry

How to Make Content Writer Portfolio to Win Clients Over?

Content writing is one of the most thriving domains and serves ample opportunities to start a career as a content writer. However, employers and clients often ask for a content writing portfolio to hire freelance writers. Plus, most freelance content job posts receive hundreds of applications. How would you stand out if a prospect sought… Continue reading How to Make Content Writer Portfolio to Win Clients Over?

Need Help Building B2C Content Marketing Strategy? This is It!

Content marketing has gained tremendous traction in recent years; it is an approach that all marketers use to generate and convert potential leads. The need for a fierce B2C content marketing strategy in today’s content led world, is the key to a brand’s success. Planned content marketing not only helps you reach the right audience… Continue reading Need Help Building B2C Content Marketing Strategy? This is It!

The Only Guide You Need to Create B2B Case Studies That Convert

Humans strategise based on proof; B2B case studies offer that proof of legitimacy to leads and give a brand’s unique value propositions a front seat. A solid case study in your marketing funnel can propel lead conversion.  But writing a B2B marketing case study requires a precise understanding of what your leads are looking for… Continue reading The Only Guide You Need to Create B2B Case Studies That Convert

Unlock Business Success and Growth with Expert SaaS Content Writing

With over 30,000+ SaaS companies fighting for customer attention, the competition in the SaaS industry is increasingly high. So, if you want to break through the noise, it’s time to prioritize SaaS content writing. SaaS writing involves creating content that’s relevant to your target market. It positions you as an authority in the industry, communicates… Continue reading Unlock Business Success and Growth with Expert SaaS Content Writing

Get Optimised SERP Rankings with an SEO Content Agency

B2B companies generate 2x more revenue from organic searches than any other marketing strategy. Your website should be created with one goal in mind – bringing in visitors who want to know about and ultimately use your services.   SEO is the process of strategically increasing the quality and quantity of visitor traffic to your website… Continue reading Get Optimised SERP Rankings with an SEO Content Agency

Revise, Refine, Rewrite: Expert Self-Editing Tips for Writers

You read through a blog that you have just finished writing and are filled with doubt. “Did that sentence sound natural? How did I miss that typo? The pacing seems off.” Has this ever happened to you? Well, fear not – all your article needs is some self-editing! Erase those errors and unveil a cohesive… Continue reading Revise, Refine, Rewrite: Expert Self-Editing Tips for Writers

Looking for a Content Creation Agency? Ask These Top Questions to Make the Right Choice

In an ideal world, your content marketing strategy is performing exceedingly well, leads are converting through the funnel, and you’re hitting your goals. But in reality, 36% of B2B marketers do not have a documented content strategy and 4% have no plans of coming up with one. But with content as an indispensable part of… Continue reading Looking for a Content Creation Agency? Ask These Top Questions to Make the Right Choice

5 Steps to Perform a Complete Content Audit for Your Website

With rapid development fuelled by the growth of technology, the amount of information out there constantly evolves. Ask yourself – are you keeping up with this evolution? To ensure your content is up to date, you need to pre-plan and organise. This is where content audit proves to be extremely useful. With a clear idea… Continue reading 5 Steps to Perform a Complete Content Audit for Your Website

Interactive Content Marketing: The Secret to Increasing Your Engagement

High-quality and actionable content does an excellent job of intriguing the audience. But offering them interactive content takes things to the next level! That’s what interactive content marketing brings to the table – content the audience can actively engage with. Interesting quizzes, online games, and opinion polls are ideal examples. This way, you can effectively engage your audience and… Continue reading Interactive Content Marketing: The Secret to Increasing Your Engagement

Best B2B Blog Marketing Ideas for Lead Generation

It’s undeniable that blogging continues to play a critical role in today’s content strategy. But, how do you leverage B2B blog marketing for maximum lead generation? Implementing effective blog marketing techniques can expedite lead generation. To help you create an impactful B2B blog marketing strategy, here are some expert secrets for you. 1. Provide Value… Continue reading Best B2B Blog Marketing Ideas for Lead Generation

Simplifying Complex Ideas with Infographics in Content Marketing

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are constantly overloading people with new information. Due to this, retaining a loyal audience has become a daunting task; most people scroll past the content if it seems lengthy. To feed people information in a digestible manner, infographics in content marketing come as superheroes to save the day! But… Continue reading Simplifying Complex Ideas with Infographics in Content Marketing

7 Tips to Develop an Effective Content Distribution Strategy in 2024

You could be producing an endless stream of high-quality content but still may not be getting the right traffic. This happens because producing content alone is not enough. With an average user spending only 37 seconds on a piece of content, it is vital to have a B2B content distribution strategy in place. A proper… Continue reading 7 Tips to Develop an Effective Content Distribution Strategy in 2024

Are your technical articles lacking the spark needed to grab readers’ attention? Do you want to make your technical article writing more interesting and captivating? In this blog, we’ll give the best advice for improving your technical articles. We know that technical writing occasionally receives a bad rap for being dull, difficult, and boring. But… Continue reading The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Good Technical Articles

Elevate your SEO and Audience Engagement: The Power of Website Content Update

You might have amazing web content along with stellar blog posts and graphics. All that still doesn’t guarantee great organic traffic generation and better engagement. It’s because your audience and Google don’t find your content that engaging or informative anymore!   What does that even mean?   Well, your website serves as your primary communication channel with your customers… Continue reading Elevate your SEO and Audience Engagement: The Power of Website Content Update

How to Write SEO Friendly Content like a Pro

Picture this: You have poured your heart and soul into crafting a blog post that is original, inspiring and relevant to readers in every corner of the digital realm. But there’s one problem—it’s lost in the vast abyss of the internet. Your masterpiece remains unseen, buried beneath an avalanche of other articles. But there’s a… Continue reading How to Write SEO Friendly Content like a Pro

The Best Guide for building a Successful Social Media Strategy

People love viewing engaging posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp. This is why businesses and services today are keen on leveraging the power of social media. And if you, too, want to optimise your content marketing, you must know how to build a successful social media strategy. And before we begin, here’s… Continue reading The Best Guide for building a Successful Social Media Strategy

Top 5 Reasons You Need to Hire a Content Strategy Agency

Let’s look at it this way: You’ve worked so hard to build a business; you earned your clients and built trust among them too. Now what? What about the other potential customers out there who would benefit from your product? How would you proceed to grow your brand? There is not just one answer to… Continue reading Top 5 Reasons You Need to Hire a Content Strategy Agency

A Guide to B2B Copywriting: Meaning, Purpose, and Best Practices

Copywriting is the backbone of any B2B marketing and advertising campaign. It remains one of the most effective ways to generate awareness, enhance visibility, and boost conversions. Learning what is B2B copywriting and what purpose it serves is vital. The text you use in your website, social media ads, or sales material reflects your brand… Continue reading A Guide to B2B Copywriting: Meaning, Purpose, and Best Practices

How to Create SEO Strategy to Grow Your Business?

There are many elements you should focus on to ensure the success of your business in the current digital landscape. One of these includes generating organic traffic for your website, which you can accomplish with search engine optimization SEO. But how to create SEO strategy for your business? In this blog, we will explain what… Continue reading How to Create SEO Strategy to Grow Your Business?

Want to be a Great Content Writer? Develop These 8 Skills!

To create content that sells and impacts the target audience, content writers must possess a few important skills. In this blog, we will explain some of the most sought-after skills content writers must exhibit to become a pro in their job. Let’s find out the key skills required for content writing to succeed in the… Continue reading Want to be a Great Content Writer? Develop These 8 Skills!

Freelance Writing Simplified: Get Answers to the Top FAQs!

Are you excited to begin your freelance writing journey?  Whether you’re a full-time freelance writer or just looking for side gigs, the flexibility is unmatchable. However, you may have multiple questions worrying you during the initial freelancing days.  Don’t worry, as we have got you sorted! In this post, we’ll talk about the most pressing… Continue reading Freelance Writing Simplified: Get Answers to the Top FAQs!

How to Write a Post on Quora – Learn All the Tips and Tricks!

Brand building and B2B marketing have become more challenging than ever. Want to know why? Most target audiences are looking for solutions from brands. However, not every brand is offering the same. Since Quora is an excellent platform to answer the questions raised by the public, it is essential to leverage this knowledge-sharing platform. So,… Continue reading How to Write a Post on Quora – Learn All the Tips and Tricks!

Here’s What You Should Know about Hiring a Content Marketing Agency India

According to a report from Content Marketing Institute: The importance of content marketing can’t be overstated. No matter what industry you’re in, content acts like a bridge between you and your audience. But it can be challenging to carry out successful content marketing campaigns without trusted professionals who’re well-versed in areas like SEO, social media marketing,… Continue reading Here’s What You Should Know about Hiring a Content Marketing Agency India

Long Form Content for SEO: The Key to Higher SERP Ranking

Keep it short and sweet, right? Wrong! When it comes to SEO, long form content not only ranks well but also attracts and engages readers better. So, if you’re having trouble driving traffic, it might be because your content is too short. Although there is no rigid definition for long form content SEO, content writers… Continue reading Long Form Content for SEO: The Key to Higher SERP Ranking

How to Write Effective Social Media Posts? [A Complete Guide]

What’s the ideal online platform to reach your target audience?  Undoubtedly, the answer is social media, as that is where your audience is probably spending time right now! So, social media posts are the bridge between you and your followers. Effective social media writing requires clear planning, understanding readers, adding the right CTAs, and defining your purpose. From… Continue reading How to Write Effective Social Media Posts? [A Complete Guide]

Top B2B Marketing Challenges: Overview & How to Overcome Them

The B2B industry is constantly adapting to technological advancements, increased buyer awareness, and the need for tailored campaigns to entice prospects. Yet, there seems to be an impact on the overall revenue. The lack of promising revenue can be primarily credited to multiple B2B marketing challenges plaguing the industry. Here’s a look into the top 4 challenges… Continue reading Top B2B Marketing Challenges: Overview & How to Overcome Them

Content Writing vs Copywriting: What’s the Difference?

Content drives successful digital marketing strategies, including social media marketing, search engine optimization, and pay-per-click advertising. Every piece of content sparks a new opportunity for your business to enhance brand presence, improve engagement, and connect with potential prospects.  Even so, not all forms of content creation are the same. Content writing and copywriting are quite… Continue reading Content Writing vs Copywriting: What’s the Difference?

Hiring SEO Writing Services? Here’s What You Need to Know!

When was the last time you typed in a search query? If you are reading this, it was probably a few seconds ago. Now, ask yourself this: What brought you here? Did the title catch your attention, or was it the article’s placement on the search engine results pages? The answer doesn’t matter. But if… Continue reading Hiring SEO Writing Services? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Is Content Writing a Good Career in India? Get All Your Answers Here!

Have you ever stopped to think about who is responsible for the plethora of content available online, today? That’s right! Content writers scan the length and breadth of a topic to present well-researched writeups. With content marketing efforts gaining traction, content writing looks to be a promising prospect with immense opportunities for skilled writers. But… Continue reading Is Content Writing a Good Career in India? Get All Your Answers Here!

Wondering If You Need to Hire Blog Writing Services? Find Out Now!

A decade ago, many considered blogs to be online personal diaries. They were a space for you to showcase your literary ingenuity while touching on subjects close to you. That’s not the case anymore. In fact, out of the 1.9 billion websites in the world, over 600 million have a dedicated blog section. The reason? It helps them speak to… Continue reading Wondering If You Need to Hire Blog Writing Services? Find Out Now!

Back to Where It Began: My Story of Rejoining WrittenlyHub

Back in 2021, stuck in online lectures during the pandemic, I figured it was time to put my free time to good use. Earning some extra cash along the way wouldn’t hurt either! So, I started looking for internships, and that’s when I stumbled upon Writtenlyhub. With no grand plan in mind, I applied for… Continue reading Back to Where It Began: My Story of Rejoining WrittenlyHub

Witness a Journey of Transformative Growth: From Freelancing to Team Management

“Do what you feel is right, the rest can always be figured out anyway!”    If I said I knew writing was my cup of tea since the beginning, I would be lying. It was only 5 years back that I learned about the career opportunities blooming in the content industry. I also learned that there… Continue reading Witness a Journey of Transformative Growth: From Freelancing to Team Management

The WHustler Way: How Sristi Blends Creativity with Operational Expertise

“Turn life’s uncertainties into a harmony of organised chaos and watch the magic unfold”  My story of working as a proud WHustler has been all about tackling challenges, finding freedom, and navigating the exciting world of operations management.   Discovering the Ops Life  I have always loved the operations side of things in a company –… Continue reading The WHustler Way: How Sristi Blends Creativity with Operational Expertise

A Journey of Exploration, Learning, and Growth: From Engineering to SEO Specialist

“Everybody you meet and everything you do has a greater purpose in life”  I always believe what Steve Jobs once said – “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards”. This quote has always resonated with me, guiding me through the twists and turns of my career path. My… Continue reading A Journey of Exploration, Learning, and Growth: From Engineering to SEO Specialist

From Studying Psychology to Achieving Corporate Success with WrittenlyHub

“Dare to pivot; sometimes, the boldest moves lead to the most fulfilling chapters.”   In the corridors of Delhi University, my undergraduate years in psychology were a canvas waiting to be painted. Delving into the intricacies of the human mind, I found my passion for understanding and aiding the complexities that reside within. Interning at Tihar… Continue reading From Studying Psychology to Achieving Corporate Success with WrittenlyHub

From Wordsmith to Content Leader: My Success Story in the Content Industry

The only way you keep growing in life is not by counting mistakes but embracing “missed takes”.  When I set out on the path of engineering, I dreamed of working as a Product Development Engineer in the Food Technology department of an FMCG. But the funny thing about life is that it has its own… Continue reading From Wordsmith to Content Leader: My Success Story in the Content Industry

Mastering Life and Career: My WrittenlyHub Journey

“Conquering life; one challenge at a time“ Each occurrence in life carries its purpose and unfolds precisely in its designated moment. WrittenlyHub illustrates this truth in my own journey. I completed my graduation in Management Studies with a focus on finance but soon came to the realization that it didn’t align with my true passion.… Continue reading Mastering Life and Career: My WrittenlyHub Journey

From College Grad to Customer Success Manager: WHustler Aastha’s Journey

“Nothing changes if nothing changes. So make sure you’re a part of that change. ”  I truly believe that every experience we have shapes us into the person we are. But little did I know that every decision we make has the same effect, till I joined WrittenlyHub.   The Dilemma of Career Choices After Graduation  Just… Continue reading From College Grad to Customer Success Manager: WHustler Aastha’s Journey

WHustler Sumaiya’s Story of Strength and Never-Give-Up Attitude

WHustling each day to write something worth reading!  Yes, I am a writer.   Was this always the plan? No!  So, am I happy? More than happy!  Being an academic enthusiast and a student of literature, I always wanted to share my knowledge and make a career out of it by becoming a teacher or professor.… Continue reading WHustler Sumaiya’s Story of Strength and Never-Give-Up Attitude

From Content Novice to Word Ninja: Finding My Fit in The Content Industry

“Mastering new niches, one blog at a time”  Content and writing are two intertwining but separate worlds, and this is a journey of understanding that.   Like many other writers, my story also starts with some inquisitiveness for reading. With my nose buried deep in all the Oxford literature books my school had to offer, I… Continue reading From Content Novice to Word Ninja: Finding My Fit in The Content Industry

Becoming a Writer Turned Out to be a Life-Changing Experience for Me

“Scaling the growth charts while learning the art of weaving dreams with words.”   Have you ever wondered how life’s unpredictable twists lead us to unexpected destinations? I watched my life go through multiple ups and downs and yet found a way to a fulfilling profession, helping me learn and flourish at every turn.   Here is… Continue reading Becoming a Writer Turned Out to be a Life-Changing Experience for Me

My Career Road All the Way from IT to Content Writing

“Putting a bit of “me” in every content I create to make it stand apart.”  I had always wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember but never dared to pursue my dreams. Now, when I see “Senior Content Writer” beside my name, I still can’t believe it sometimes. Because I… Continue reading My Career Road All the Way from IT to Content Writing

From a Student Teacher to a Content Writer!

“Writing to me is like journey of self-discovery.”  As I was completing my Master’s in English a few years ago, I got to thinking about what I want to do next. I was completely clueless! So, I asked around. Every person I spoke to, from friends to family, advised me to go into teaching due… Continue reading From a Student Teacher to a Content Writer!

Evolving as a Writer and Inching Closer to My Dreams Every Day

“Embarking on a journey to sculpt ideas with words”  I am often asked – how did I start writing or understand that it can be a career choice? I ponder back to when I was a dedicated academic soul and tapped on the keyboard only to write a research paper. Writing as a career? Pfft,… Continue reading Evolving as a Writer and Inching Closer to My Dreams Every Day

 Issue:  September/October 2002 | PDF

How to Write a Good Technical Article

IEEE Software  receives about 200 manuscripts each year, of which we publish approximately 50 to 75. Each manuscript goes through an in-depth peer review process and is reviewed by our associate editors in chief and me. In addition, guest editors review special-issue manuscripts.

Four years as editor in chief of  IEEE Software  have shown me countless examples of the differences between good and not-so-good technical articles. You might have wondered what you need to get a technical article published, either in  IEEE Software  or elsewhere. Here are some pointers.

One frequent misperception about  IEEE Software  is that it is a “journal.” In common parlance,  IEEE Software  probably is a journal in the sense that it publishes substantive papers of interest to leading practitioners. In IEEE parlance, however,  IEEE Software  is a magazine rather than a transaction or journal. The difference between these terms in IEEE-speak is that a magazine publishes articles and columns of contemporary interest to practitioners. Transactions focus more on publishing research results. There is no strong expectation that a transaction’s readers will read its papers as soon as they are published; rather, we expect readers to archive a transaction for future research purposes. We expect magazine readers to read a magazine’s contents close to when we publish them.

As a magazine,  IEEE Software  has more latitude than a transaction about the kinds of articles it publishes. We can publish reports of a single project or company’s experiences, and the findings need not rise to the level of statistically significant research if they provide valuable insights to our readers. Articles can also describe experiences with a new tool or practice, new ways of using old practices, new combinations of old practices, and so on. However, experience backed by data has a better chance of being published than purely anecdotal experience reports. Of course, we are also always looking for research findings that do rise to the statistically significant level, as long as those findings are of interest to leading software practitioners.

An important factor in my decision about whether to accept an article is how clearly the article is focused. A good article addresses exactly one topic. I have been surprised at how many submissions cover one-and-three-quarters topics poorly rather than cover one topic well. The solution is often simply to remove extraneous material. As Voltaire pointed out, an article is finished not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more that can be taken away. Similarly, a good article has a clear purpose. If I can’t determine the point the author is trying to make, I won’t accept the paper.

Our referees and readers have told us they dislike articles that evangelize a specific tool or methodology, especially if one specific company sells that tool or methodology. Candid experience reports are always welcome; dressed-up marketing pieces rarely make it past my desk into the review process. In contrast, our readers like articles about real, hands-on experiences. I give leeway to articles based on hands-on experiences, submitted by working practitioners who might not be well-versed in the nuances of writing for publication. As long as you clearly and honestly report the experience, you don’t need to worry about the writing being perfect.  IEEE Software ‘s excellent staff of editors can turn the report into a publication-quality article as long as the writing is technically accurate.

Writing Style

The best style for a technical article is to present background information and technical conclusions as clearly as possible. Other objectives are secondary to clarity.

I have received papers in which the author seems to be trying to impress readers with his or her intellect. Some papers use large words when synonymous shorter words would suffice, and others use sentences that are longer and more complicated than needed. Some papers create a profusion of needless acronyms or use mathematical formulas to present concepts that could be presented with one or two short sentences.

IEEE Software ‘s audience is software practitioners. Leading practitioners are busy people who place a premium on accessible information. Big words, complicated sentences, and formulas don’t impress them. Our readers value articles that quickly and blatantly cut to the heart of the issue at hand. The more practical the article, and the more it is directed toward practicing software developers and managers, the more likely we are to publish it.

The highest praise an  IEEE Software  article can receive is “It seems like common sense.” If an author can present a new concept so clearly that readers view it as common sense, the author has accomplished something significant.

Papers sometimes fall short in ways that can be easily avoided.

Lack of focus in multiauthor papers .  Many papers we publish have multiple coauthors. These papers frequently suffer from redundant sections written by different authors, from writing styles that differ grossly from one section to the next, and so on. Coauthor teams should appoint a lead author or editor who can make a final pass through the paper to check for redundancy and inconsistencies.

Overgeneralizing from experience .  While our readers love experience reports, I find that authors sometimes draw conclusions that extend beyond their reported experiences. For example, a paper that reports how much developer morale improved after using certain technical practices should not speculate that productivity will “probably” or “obviously” improve. Similarly, a paper can’t claim that a method improves portability, maintainability, or adaptability until the software concerned is ported, maintained, or adapted. A paper provides significant value by reporting even simple, narrow findings, but speculation beyond what the experience or data supports detracts from a paper’s contributions.

Too much academic background information .  Many papers spend pages providing background information on a familiar topic–for example, the Software Engineering Institute’s CMM for software. A college term paper might require such background, but a paper submitted for consumption by practitioners does better to provide a one-paragraph summary of familiar topic areas and direct readers to seminal books or articles on the topic. Readers are more interested in the author’s specific experiences than in reviewing familiar background material.

Reluctance to submit a short paper .  When reviewing submitted manuscripts, I sometimes get the impression that the authors had a good, clear idea but felt it was too small by itself to submit for publication. The authors then submit a paper with detailed background information, collateral material, and so on–which has the cumulative effect of obscuring the article’s real contribution. Our readers have been exceedingly clear that shorter is better. A paper should make its point and then stop.

Submitting a paper that is inappropriate for a theme .  Occasionally we receive a submission for a theme issue that is outside the theme’s scope. In the worst cases, the author has changed the paper’s title to match the theme, but the contents don’t match the title or relate to the theme. Submitting such papers is a waste of time for everyone involved. If you doubt whether your paper is appropriate for a theme, email the theme’s guest editors. They will help you focus your ideas in ways consistent with their theme, which maximizes the chances that we’ll ultimately accept your paper.

Expect to be edited .  It’s natural to become attached to writing into which you’ve poured precious evening and weekend hours. No one will be more familiar with a paper’s content than the author. However,  IEEE Software ‘s readers are accustomed to reading articles that are presented in a particular style. The job of  IEEE Software ‘s professional editing staff is to ensure that each article is ultimately published in a form that facilitates that connection between the author and our readers. Most authors don’t enjoy being edited, but if you keep an open mind, editing will almost always improve the quality of your paper. If nothing else, you’ll learn what someone else thinks is needed to connect with our magazine’s readers.

Authors should also address a few details that ease the reviewers’ and editors’ jobs. Submissions should contain

• Page numbers on each page
• An abstract or executive summary of 150 or fewer words
• A list of keywords
• Contact information for each author on the first page

In addition,  IEEE Software  does not generally publish articles that have been published elsewhere or that are simultaneously being considered for publication elsewhere.

My bottom-line question for an IEEE Software article is, “Does it make a contribution to the software engineering literature?” Some articles contribute by introducing a revolutionary concept or by synthesizing familiar concepts in a new way. Others contribute by providing an exceptionally accessible introduction to a specific topic or by providing an unusually clear and balanced survey of a topic area. A good article says something new or says something old in a new way. If you have ideas about an article you would like to publish, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Editor: Steve McConnell, Construx Software   |   More articles

How to Write an Interesting Technical Article

To write a technical article, one just surely needs technical knowledge. Well, no. The very best technical writers take enormous pains to present information in an interesting way. This isn’t a mysterious art at all, and the technique can be learned just as easily as square-dancing. Journalists are taught the technique though they often forget. We give just a few pointers.

Why, one wonders, should technical writing be so boring to read? The writers within the IT industry almost try to make a virtue of their ability to repel the readers.

Part of the problem is that there is no best-practice to emulate. We have a lot to be ashamed of in the way we communicate. Another aspect of the problem is that a lot of writing is not even intended to convey meaning; instead, it is a technique for obfuscating technologies, in embellishing the importance of the writer, or in conveying the vague impression that a particular technology is splendid.

Writers like to suggest that they possess a mysterious art. In truth, it is not a matter of talent, but craft. Nobody is born with the gift of welding, busking or programming: all crafts are learned through graft, sweat, and self-criticism.

Capture the readers’ interest as soon as possible

The commonest mistake is to write a dull first paragraph. Most readers will not tolerate such a thing. Even in technical writing there is no excuse for that.

Any aspiring author who is writing in English need do no more than read the first paragraph of the novel ‘Moby Dick’, by Herman Melville, to see the perfect way of starting.

‘Call me Ishmael. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation. Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off- then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.’

See? Did you notice the hammer-blow of the sentence that starts ‘Whenever I find myself going grim about the mouth….’, after the simple first sentence? The way it reads as if he was really speaking directly to you? Did you notice the ingenious rhythms of the sentences wrought through the clever mix of syllables? No? It’s only because you aren’t analyzing why some communication works, and why others don’t. It wasn’t just talent by Herman Melville, it was as calculated as putting up a pair of shelves.

Ah, you say, that’s a novel, easy, what about a text book? No problem, Read this. It’s the start of ‘The Age of Scandal’ by TH White.

Well, we have lived to see the end of civilisation in England. I was once a gentleman myself. When I was an undergraduate at Cambridge, the Master of a college was a fabulous being, who lived in a Lodge of breath-taking beauty and incalculable antiquity, tended by housemaids, footmen and a butler. There he consumed vintage port, wrote abstruse treatises if the spirit moved him, and lived the life of an impressive, cultivated gentleman. Such posts were among the few and noble rewards rightly offered to scholarship by the civilisation which then existed. When I last stayed in Cambridge, I lunched with two Masters of colleges. Both of them had to help with the washing-up after luncheon. There was a comic story current shortly after the Hitler war— one tried to think that it was comic. It said that there was some conference or other at Lambeth, thronged with archbishops, cardinals, patriarchs, moderators and so forth. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York were seen to be in earnest consultation in one corner of the room. Were they discussing a reunion with Rome or a revision of the Prayer Book? Thrilled with the ecclesiastical possibilities of such a meeting, one of the stripling curates managed to edge himself within earshot of these Princes of the Church. They were discussing whether it was worse to wash-up or to dry-up.

A poker-faced, TH White, in mischievous mood, starts with a shock, and then uses his facile virtuosity to attempt to justify the impossible. He then does an elegant pirouette into the comic. The reader is jolted into attention. This is going to be no ordinary History book.

So what is the message from these examples? The masters of literature use spoken language, There is no separate convention for written prose. They hit you with fresh ideas and subvert your prejudices to get your interest. They jolt you into attention. Don’t worry, if you can’t be brilliant, then be clear and simple so that your readers will be grateful, and continue to read.

Keep things brief

Think, for a moment, of those things that you’ve read that have made the most impact on you. Short, eh? A good writer will rework material constantly to refine it and presume less on the patience of the reader. There is a well-known adage in the IT industry that the average manager can read just one side of A4 before his attention wanders. I’m surprised, from my own experience, that it is that much.

Work to a strict framework but then remove it

When a house is built, then the scaffolding is removed. Often, in technical writing or academic work, not only the scaffolding is left, just to prove that the house was properly built, but the cement mixer is left in the garden. Essays are littered with headings like Introduction, Summary or Conclusion. Ironically, they often aren’t.

All writers need structure. I once called in to see Duncan Kyle, the novelist. His study wall was a sea of notes, pictures, and references pinned everywhere as he worked on his next action thriller. Months of work preceded the typing of the first draft. PG Wodehouse famously pinned his stories around the wall of his study at a height commensurate with the quality of the page. He worked at them until they all reached the ceiling.

I like to use the old schoolmasters’ trick, where you start by filling in a grid marked ‘What?’, ‘ Why?’, ‘Who?’, ‘Where?’, ‘When?’, ‘How?’, and then sequencing the various ways that you answer those questions, and developing the structure from these ‘nuggets’.

Notice that scaffolding conforms exactly to the shape of the house. You should never use a standard shape or put the scaffolding up before you’ve designed the house.

Periphrastic perambulations are anathema

Keep words short where possible, but pop in the occasional polysyllable just to help the rhythm of the words. With technical writing, you must never use abbreviations without defining them, even if they are well-known in your immediate circle. When using a highly technical sentence, a useful trick is to follow it with the same message written in simple English. That gathers up all your readers, whatever their prior knowledge, to lead them onwards. Be sympathetic with all those keen and interested readers who are not native English speakers. They will not thank you for show-off words as in the heading of this section.

It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is `soporific.’ I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit. They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies!

Beatrix Potter, at her majestic peak, gives the perfect example in her ‘Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies’. How poorly it would have read without the word ‘Soporific’.

In the fourteenth century, John Wycliffe made the first English translation of the bible in the spoken Yorkshire dialect of the common man. Its effect on English literature was far more profound than that of Shakespeare. If you can convey complex messages that simply, why feel the necessity to make anything more complex?

In the bigynnyng was the word, and the word was at God, and God was the word. This was in the bigynnyng at God. Alle thingis weren maad bi hym, and withouten hym was maad no thing, that thing that was maad. In hym was lijf, and the lijf was the liyt of men; and the liyt schyneth in derknessis,and derknessis comprehendiden not it.

Convey the emotion

When writing in the academic style, we are trained to write like a disembodied entity, devoid of all emotion. This is why academic essays are never read for pleasure. All literature, comic or tragic, is about the clash of emotion. To write well about technical subjects, one has to be interested in the subject and aware of the human struggles and mistakes behind any technology. The effect is subtle but profound. If your heart isn’t in it, you should never go near the keyboard.

Here is LTC Rolt, the engineering historian, with a classic paragraph from his book ‘Red for Danger’ on the history of accidents on Britain’s railways.

One of the most tiresome and menacing of the early experimentalists (in the early railways) was Doctor Dionysius Lardner, a character strongly reminiscent of ‘Beachcomber’s’ Doctor Strabismus. That he enjoyed for a time a great reputation as a railway expert was due to the fact that he was one of the first masters of the art of blinding the layman with science, but that he was able to impose upon the railway companies themselves is more mysterious. Speaking against Brunel’s proposal to construct the Box Tunnel on the main line of the Great Western Railway with a continuous gradient of 1 in 100, the Doctor pronounced that if the brakes of a descending train were to fail as it entered the tunnel it would emerge at a speed of 120 miles per hour, a velocity at which no passenger could breathe. Brunel pointed out that the Doctor had failed to take into account either frictional or wind resistance and that the speed would in fact be only fifty-six miles per hour. But the savant’s self-esteem remained unshaken. With an inconsistency surprising in view of this first gaffe, we next find him pontificating against the broad gauge on the grounds of the increased ‘atmospheric resistance’ of the wider vehicles. It is obvious that a man of the calibre of Isambard Brunel knew perfectly well that Doctor Dionysius Lardner was a pompous fraud and yet for some extraordinary reason the Great Western Company gave him the use of an experimental train and the liberty of their tracks. For the two months of September and October 1838 the Doctor’s train was at large on the main line to the extreme hazard of the regular services. It was asking for trouble and, sure enough, it came. On September 26th George Henry Gibbs, promoter and director of the Company wrote in his diary: ‘the eight o’clock train ran into the experimental train and injured three of the carriages very much’. Did the Doctor apologize? Did the Company order him off? Not a bit of it. He seems to have assumed the rights of royalty and wrote the Great Western board a furious letter which Gibbs described as ‘Very improper’. A month later the experimental train was again involved in a collision. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately from the Company’s point of view, the sage was not on board on this occasion and it was his unfortunate pupil who paid the penalty. He was killed on the spot.

Cite and acknowledge sources

The technical writer must behave with exaggerated courtesy. For some reason, humanity strains to give a compliment, and to acknowledge good work in others. Criticism seems more natural. The author should cite all quotations and sources of any information as he would in an academic treatise. Not only do the authors appreciate it, but the writer of the article shows that at least he has done his homework. Any article used or even glanced at in the preparation of some writing should be listed at the end of an article as a source. it costs nothing to thank anyone who helped with the article as well.

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How to write the Perfect Technical Article

At Publitek, our team of writers spend the best part of their working day writing. The idea of facing a blank page every morning leaves some people cold, but it doesn’t have to. Writing, as it applies to the services provided to our clients, follows some fairly simple Golden Rules, which I’m going to share with you in this blog.

Writers write, right?

“Without rule 3 you could easily veer off course” Image credit: Mark Duffel

Before you can start to write the perfect technical article , you need to break the goal down into its three constituent parts; writing, perfection and a technical article. The good news is, you can already write. You may or may not think of yourself as a competent writer, but trust me, you are. Or at least you can be. Writing is something we all learn at an early age; it is a life-skill that has very clear rules. From this point of view, writing well becomes objective; if you follow the established and documented grammatical rules, your writing will be ‘correct’. There are even software tools and online platforms that can check your writing to make sure it complies with these grammatical rules. Once you get really proficient, you can break these rules with abandonment, rather than by accident, for extra emphasis. All the great writers do this. Some of the not-so-great writers get away with it. The key here is to remember there has to be a good reason for breaking the rules, and not knowing them isn’t a good reason.

Laying your trail of breadcrumbs

Writing well means communicating what’s inside your head to others in a way that makes sense to them, not just you. This raises the important topic of interpretation. In many forms of creative writing, reader interpretation is crucial, but for a technical article I would suggest that inviting reader interpretation should be used with caution. There will be times when you want the reader to arrive somewhere thanks to the trail of ‘breadcrumbs’ you’ve provided. But if that trail gets confusing, due to an unintentional (and metaphorical) fork in the road, then you risk losing the reader along the way. For technical articles, clarity is important. Understanding what you want to say is Golden Rule Number 1 and it is crucial that you have this defined before sitting down at that blank sheet of paper. If you do, that creative white space no longer seems quite so daunting. At Publitek, every piece of content we create starts life as a briefing form, which I like to describe as robust, but not rigid. We use these to define and agree the topics, key points and premises that we’ll be writing about.

You can’t please all of the engineers, all of the time

The next topic to address is the idea of ‘perfection’. Here, the sad news is, there is no such thing. What appears as perfect to some will be hogwash to others, and that’s the nature of humans. The most important point here is to always write with your audience in mind, and that’s advice that can be applied to any form of writing. The concept of a technical article is entirely subjective; it depends on the technical knowledge of the reader. You shouldn’t attempt to write anything that will appeal to everyone, because it will either be bereft of any real detail or be so tediously long that nobody would ever read it. Knowing your audience is Golden Rule Number 2 . This is particularly important when writing for publication in a trade magazine, because if you don’t write with the audience in mind the editor is unlikely to accept it for publication.

The last part of the equation is understanding what constitutes a technical article. You may work for a company with great technology, but you don’t need to tell the reader how good it is in every sentence. As I’ve already said, the term ‘technical’ will be subjective, but let’s assume that the article is aimed at an engineering audience. This immediately pares down the potential readership, but that’s ok, for the reasons outlined above. However, even within an engineering audience there will be different skill levels and specialities. The question now becomes, how much of that engineering audience am I trying to reach? This is where we begin to shape the flow of the article.

Like any piece of creative writing, a technical article should follow a story arc; it has a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning will define the context for the middle and the end. If the context allows, the beginning will introduce the topic in a way that outlines the challenges and solutions covered in the rest of the text, in a way that will resonate most with the target audience.

This introduces the third Golden Rule; work within the context of your objective . This isn’t quite so simple as rules 1 and 2, but it is perhaps the most important. Without rule 3 you could easily veer off course and write an article that is little more than an advert. Failing to follow rule number 3 will also render rules 1 and 2 moot because you will have lost the audience before they have a chance to appreciate your proficiency in the first two.

Phil's Golden Rules to Great Technical Articles

Rule 1: Know what you want to say Rule 2: Know who you want to say it to Rule 3: Know your objective and stick to it Rule 4: Know your subject Rule 5: When it’s not quite right, you’ll know

Engineers like to be intrigued

We call it a story arc because we can think of it as a continuous, sweeping path from the beginning to the end, but as anyone who reads any kind of literature will appreciate, good stories always have a twist or two. This ‘sleight of hand’ is important, because it keeps the reader interested. Plot twists may not have a home in technical articles , but intrigue is important. Engineers are inquisitive, so will be looking for the ‘Aha!’ moment from the very first line. Delaying the big reveal can suspend this moment, but it shouldn’t be completely unexpected when it does arrive. Presenting a logical, reasoned argument is a key ingredient of a technical article, the more focused the article, the more detail required. The only way I know of doing this is to really understand the subject matter. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, knowing your subject is Golden Rule Number 4 .

Technical writing with style

It would be nice to round the number of golden rules up to 5, wouldn’t it? The rules described so far in are in no particular order, but they are all important. What remains is a long list of additional points that, effectively, come down to personal style. I don’t recommend imbuing technical articles with personality, as that isn’t the point (writers, please check your ego at the door). What is important is that the reader feels like the writer understands them. This isn’t just a repeat of Golden Rule Number 2, it goes further than that. It means being objective and not trying to hang the entire article off one point. It also means developing a style that eases the process of writing, conveys the authority and expertise of the writer, and leaves the reader feeling like the time they invested in reading your article was time well spent. This can really only happen with trial and error. To liken it to a contemporary megatrend, think of it as training an artificial intelligence; the more it fails, the better it gets. If I had to express that simply, as Golden Rule Number 5, I’d say practise, practise, practise .

At Publitek, we are trusted with generating millions of words of content every year, for a wide range of clients offering some sort of technology. Our writers have honed their skills over years of practice, they research the market, assess the solutions, evaluate the features and benefits and present the facts in a way that makes sense to engineers at every level. If that’s the sort of thing your company is looking for, drop me a line.

Philip Ling [email protected]

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How to Write a Technical Article

Katharine is a scientist and certified technical writer-editor.

Come up with an Idea for Your Technical Article

Writing a technical article starts with an idea. Consider what you want to write about and what angle you intend to use to catch a reader's attention. The more specific or niche you can get with your article, the more useful it will be for your target audience.

If you are working in a company in which you have ready access to subject matter experts in a technical area, use their projects or research as a source of inspiration.

However, if you don't have daily access to scientists or technical experts, consider using journal articles or other published literature in a given area to help you narrow down your topic.

Article Angles

Some ideas for angles to take on your article include timeliness (breaking news), impact (how it relates to your audience), stating a problem and detailing a solution, or creating a narrative like a hero's journey.

Research Your Article Topic and Interview Experts

You should do some initial research on your topic prior to interviewing experts. This provides you with a baseline and helps you create thoughtful and intelligent interview questions.

Start with reading a fact sheet on the project, taking a guided tour if one is offered, sitting in on a technical meeting, or reading journal articles. Learn the acronyms and figure out who the key people are.

From there, and with your article angle in mind, decide who you plan to interview. Write 5-10 interview questions, with the first couple of questions being warm-ups that get your interviewee comfortable. The remaining questions should be purposeful.

As you take notes during the interview, consider what would make for a good quote. Jot at least a few possibilities down. After the interview, fill in the gaps and add information while it is still fresh in your mind.

Getting a Quote

Your technical article should have at least one quote from a key scientist or expert. Quotes can be jotted down during an interview or gained through follow up when sending your draft article.

5 Things to Consider When Writing Your Draft

1. Know where you intend to submit your article before you start writing your draft. Make sure you get a copy of the style guide, and read sample articles so you have an understanding of the tone required.

2. Add credibility by sprinkling in facts, statistics, or metrics.

3. Interview multiple people at multiple levels (senior, mid-career, entry) for a variety of viewpoints. Record multiple quotes so that you have options.

4. Know the word count or layout you are aiming for prior to writing the draft. However, it's easier to edit out content than it is to add words in later, so write your draft long.

5. Understand that you are writing a draft, not a final article first. There will be more work to do after this, such as incorporating feedback from your experts, an editor, or a proofreader.

Images Can Make or Break Publication

Submit your technical article with at least two high-quality images. Magazines and publications are more likely to accept your work if you have good supporting images.

Images give your technical article visual appeal and help to break up text. Readers are drawn to high-quality, colorful, and interesting images.

You don't have to use pictures for each of your images. Consider using drawings of prototypes, a still shot from a simulation model, or a graphic. Often, you can ask your experts for some of their slide decks, and you will have a multitude of visuals.

If you don't have any images, consider taking pictures specifically for your article.

With any image, ensure you are allowed to use it. Follow permissions and copyright laws.

Finalize and Fact-Check Your Article

Once you have a solid draft, send the article to your experts for review and comment. Consider all of the feedback you receive. Determine whether a given edit or comment is critical and necessary, such as a correction to something factual, or optional, such as tone or use of an analogy. Make all of the critical changes and run the final text by your experts again. For the optional changes, make adjustments if you agree with them, but factor in how it impacts the flow and tone of your article.

You may go through many drafts before reaching a final article. However, the edits should become smaller or more minor as you move through the process. The editor of the publication will provide feedback, and sometimes a copywriter will want minor changes.

You may need to approve the final layout and text prior to publication.

Technical Article Checklist

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2024 Kat Coggeshall

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The Benefits of Technical Writing: How to Write Better Technical Articles

Walle ai-writer , Story Ideas

Table of Contents

If you need help understanding a technical document, or want to know how to communicate complex information clearly and effectively, you’ve come to the right place. This guide to technical writing will help you make sense of difficult material and write clear, concise, and user-friendly documentation.

How To Use Technical Writing To Improve Your Business

There are a few ways that technical writing can help to improve business. Perhaps the most obvious way is that if a company produces technical articles or research papers, having a technical writer on staff can help to ensure that these documents are clear, concise, and accurate. This, in turn, can help to improve the company’s reputation and credibility.

Another way that technical writing can help businesses is by producing user documentation. This can be helpful for both customers and employees. Good user documentation can help customers to better understand and use a company’s products, and it can help employees to better understand and use the company’s internal systems. This, in turn, can lead to increased customer satisfaction and increased efficiency.

Finally, technical writing can also help to improve business by providing computer science and electrical engineering students with real-world experience. By working with a company on technical projects, students can gain valuable experience that will help them in their future careers. This, in turn, can lead to the company getting access to talent that it might not otherwise have.

The Different Types Of Technical Writing

There are many different types of technical writing, each with its own specific purpose. The most common types are described below.

Instructional Manuals: These manuals provide step-by-step instructions for performing a task or using a product. They often include diagrams or other visuals to aid in understanding.

Operating Manuals: These manuals provide detailed information on how a system or machine works. They are typically used by engineers or other technical personnel.

Technical Specifications : These documents specify the requirements for a product or system like computer hardware. They are often used in tenders or other procurement processes.

User Guides: These guides provide information on how to use a product or system. They are typically written for non-technical users.

Technical Reports: These reports communicate the results of technical research or investigations. They are often used to communicate findings to clients or other stakeholders.

How To Use Technical Writing To Make Complex Topics Easier To Understand

Complex topics can be difficult for the average person to understand. This is where technical writing comes in. Technical writers are experts at breaking down complex topics and making them easy to understand.

One of the most common ways technical writers do this is by writing technical papers. Technical papers are designed to explain complex topics in a clear and concise manner. They often include diagrams and other visuals to help readers understand the concepts being discussed.

Another common way technical writers make complex topics easier to understand is by writing press releases. Press releases are brief, easy-to-read summaries of complex topics. They are often used to announce new products or services, or to provide an overview of a company’s latest research.

Consumer electronics are another common area where technical writers can be found. Technical writers often create user manuals and other documentation for consumer electronics products. This documentation is designed to help users understand how to use the product, and to troubleshoot any problems they may encounter.

There are many other technical and occupational fields where technical writers can be found. These include the medical field, the automotive industry, and the aerospace industry. In each of these fields, technical writers play an important role in helping to make complex topics easier to understand.

The Benefits Of Technical Writing

There are many benefits to technical writing, especially for those who wish to improve their writing skills or become more knowledgeable about a certain subject matter. Technical writing can be a great way to get more exposure to different topics and learn about new technologies, products, or processes.

Technical articles are often more concise and to-the-point than other types of writing, making them easier to read and understand. They also tend to be better researched and better sourced, which can add credibility to the author.

Native English speakers may find that technical writing is a good way to improve their English skills. The subject matter can be challenging, but the writing itself is usually clear and straightforward. Reading and writing technical articles can help improve grammar, vocabulary, and overall fluency.

Overall, technical writing can be a great way to learn more about a subject, improve writing skills, or simply gain more exposure to different topics.

Technical Writing Tips And Tricks

Technical writing is a specialized form of writing that is used to communicate complex information to a specific audience. Technical writers are often subject matter experts who use their knowledge of a particular field or technology to create documentation that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.

While there are many different tips and tricks that can be used to improve your technical writing, some of the most important are:

Use the active voice. The active voice is more concise and easier to understand than the passive voice, so it is important to use it whenever possible.

Keep your articles focused. When writing an article, make sure to focus on one specific topic or audience. Trying to cover too much ground will make your article difficult to follow and understand.

Use examples and tools. When possible, use examples and tools to help explain complex concepts. This will make it easier for your audience to understand what you are trying to say.

Get advice from experts. If you are having trouble communicating a complex concept, seek out advice from subject matter experts. They will be able to help you find the right words and phrases to use.

How To Become A Better Technical Writer

Technical communication is the process of conveying information from one person to another. It is an essential skill for any good writer. This article shows you how to become a better technical writer.

The first step is to understand the process of technical communication. This involves understanding the audience, the purpose of the communication, and the message that needs to be conveyed.

Once you understand the process, you need to focus on the content of your communication. This means ensuring that the information you provide is accurate and up-to-date. It also means choosing the right words to convey your message clearly.

The third step is to focus on the delivery of your communication. This means ensuring that your writing is well-organized and easy to read. It also means using the right tone and style for your audience.

The fourth and final step is to focus on the overall quality of your communication. This means proofreading your work carefully and ensuring that it meets the highest standards.

By following these four steps, you can become a better technical writer.

Technical writing is a field that is constantly evolving. As new technologies emerge, so do new opportunities for technical writers. While the future of technical writing is uncertain, one thing is certain: the demand for clear, concise, and accurate technical documentation will always be high.

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Our Trump reporting upsets some readers, but there aren’t two sides to facts: Letter from the Editor

• Updated: Apr. 06, 2024, 10:27 a.m. |
• Published: Mar. 30, 2024, 8:16 a.m.

Some readers complain that we have different standards involving Donald Trump and Joe Biden. (AP Photo, File) AP

• Chris Quinn, Editor, cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer

A more-than-occasional arrival in the email these days is a question expressed two ways, one with dripping condescension and the other with courtesy:

Why don’t our opinion platforms treat Donald Trump and other politicians exactly the same way. Some phrase it differently, asking why we demean the former president’s supporters in describing his behavior as monstrous, insurrectionist and authoritarian.

I feel for those who write. They believe in Trump and want their local news source to recognize what they see in him.

The angry writers denounce me for ignoring what they call the Biden family crime syndicate and criminality far beyond that of Trump. They quote news sources of no credibility as proof the mainstream media ignores evidence that Biden, not Trump, is the criminal dictator.

The courteous writers don’t go down that road. They politely ask how we can discount the passions and beliefs of the many people who believe in Trump.

Chris Quinn's recent Letters from the Editor

• Around the globe and the nation, thousands thank us for telling the truth about Trump: Letter from the Editor
• Voices of hope. Voices of anxiety. Tears of gratitude. A global response to how we tell the truth about Donald Trump
• Let’s hang it up on polling. In election after election, they get it wrong: Letter from the Editor

This is a tough column to write, because I don’t want to demean or insult those who write me in good faith. I’ve started it a half dozen times since November but turned to other topics each time because this needle is hard to thread. No matter how I present it, I’ll offend some thoughtful, decent people.

The north star here is truth. We tell the truth, even when it offends some of the people who pay us for information.

The truth is that Donald Trump undermined faith in our elections in his false bid to retain the presidency. He sparked an insurrection intended to overthrow our government and keep himself in power. No president in our history has done worse.

This is not subjective. We all saw it. Plenty of leaders today try to convince the masses we did not see what we saw, but our eyes don’t deceive. (If leaders began a yearslong campaign today to convince us that the Baltimore bridge did not collapse Tuesday morning, would you ever believe them?) Trust your eyes. Trump on Jan. 6 launched the most serious threat to our system of government since the Civil War. You know that. You saw it.

The facts involving Trump are crystal clear, and as news people, we cannot pretend otherwise, as unpopular as that might be with a segment of our readers. There aren’t two sides to facts. People who say the earth is flat don’t get space on our platforms. If that offends them, so be it.

As for those who equate Trump and Joe Biden, that’s false equivalency. Biden has done nothing remotely close to the egregious, anti-American acts of Trump. We can debate the success and mindset of our current president, as we have about most presidents in our lifetimes, but Biden was never a threat to our democracy. Trump is. He is unique among all American presidents for his efforts to keep power at any cost.

Personally, I find it hard to understand how Americans who take pride in our system of government support Trump. All those soldiers who died in World War II were fighting against the kind of regime Trump wants to create on our soil. How do they not see it?

The March 25 edition of the New Yorker magazine offers some insight. It includes a detailed review of a new book about Adolf Hitler, focused on the year 1932. It’s called “Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power” and is by historian Timothy W. Ryback. It explains how German leaders – including some in the media -- thought they could use Hitler as a means to get power for themselves and were willing to look past his obvious deficiencies to get where they wanted. In tolerating and using Hitler as a means to an end, they helped create the monstrous dictator responsible for millions of deaths.

How are those German leaders different from people in Congress saying the election was stolen or that Jan. 6 was not an insurrection aimed at destroying our government? They know the truth, but they deny it. They see Trump as a means to an end – power for themselves and their “team” – even if it means repeatedly telling lies.

Sadly, many believe the lies. They trust people in authority, without questioning the obvious discrepancies or relying on their own eyes. These are the people who take offense to the truths we tell about Trump. No one in our newsroom gets up in the morning wanting to make a segment of readers feel bad. No one seeks to demean anyone. We understand what a privilege it is to be welcomed into the lives of the millions of people who visit our platforms each month for news, sports and entertainment. But our duty is to the truth.

Our nation does seem to be slipping down the same slide that Germany did in the 1930s. Maybe the collapse of government in the hands of a madman is inevitable, given how the media landscape has been corrupted by partisans, as it was in 1930s Germany.

I hope not.

In our newsroom, we’ll do our part. Much as it offends some who read us, we will continue to tell the truth about Trump.

I’m at mailto:[email protected]

Thanks for reading.

( Note: A follow-up column about the overwhelming international response to this piece can be found here , and a sampling of the responses can be found here .)

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NIGHTMARE SUPPLY CHAIN ATTACK SCENARIO —

What we know about the xz utils backdoor that almost infected the world, malicious updates made to a ubiquitous tool were a few weeks away from going mainstream..

Dan Goodin - Apr 1, 2024 6:55 am UTC

On Friday, a lone Microsoft developer rocked the world when he revealed a backdoor had been intentionally planted in xz Utils, an open source data compression utility available on almost all installations of Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. The person or people behind this project likely spent years on it. They were likely very close to seeing the backdoor update merged into Debian and Red Hat, the two biggest distributions of Linux, when an eagle-eyed software developer spotted something fishy.

Further Reading

Researchers have spent the weekend gathering clues. Here's what we know so far.

What is xz Utils?

xz Utils is nearly ubiquitous in Linux. It provides lossless data compression on virtually all Unix-like operating systems, including Linux. xz Utils provides critical functions for compressing and decompressing data during all kinds of operations. xz Utils also supports the legacy .lzma format, making this component even more crucial.

What happened?

Andres Freund, a developer and engineer working on Microsoft’s PostgreSQL offerings, was recently troubleshooting performance problems a Debian system was experiencing with SSH, the most widely used protocol for remotely logging in to devices over the Internet. Specifically, SSH logins were consuming too many CPU cycles and were generating errors with valgrind , a utility for monitoring computer memory.

Through sheer luck and Freund’s careful eye, he eventually discovered the problems were the result of updates that had been made to xz Utils. On Friday, Freund took to the Open Source Security List to disclose the updates were the result of someone intentionally planting a backdoor in the compression software.

It's hard to overstate the complexity of the social engineering and the inner workings of the backdoor. Thomas Roccia, a researcher at Microsoft, published a graphic on Mastodon that helps visualize the sprawling extent of the nearly successful endeavor to spread a backdoor with a reach that would have dwarfed the SolarWinds event from 2020.

What does the backdoor do?

Malicious code added to xz Utils versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1 modified the way the software functions. The backdoor manipulated sshd, the executable file used to make remote SSH connections. Anyone in possession of a predetermined encryption key could stash any code of their choice in an SSH login certificate, upload it, and execute it on the backdoored device. No one has actually seen code uploaded, so it's not known what code the attacker planned to run. In theory, the code could allow for just about anything, including stealing encryption keys or installing malware.

Wait, how can a compression utility manipulate a process as security sensitive as SSH?

Any library can tamper with the inner workings of any executable it is linked against. Often, the developer of the executable will establish a link to a library that's needed for it to work properly. OpenSSH, the most popular sshd implementation, doesn’t link the liblzma library, but Debian and many other Linux distributions add a patch to link sshd to systemd , a program that loads a variety of services during the system bootup. Systemd, in turn, links to liblzma, and this allows xz Utils to exert control over sshd.

How did this backdoor come to be?

It would appear that this backdoor was years in the making. In 2021, someone with the username JiaT75 made their first known commit to an open source project. In retrospect, the change to the libarchive project is suspicious, because it replaced the safe_fprint funcion with a variant that has long been recognized as less secure. No one noticed at the time.

The following year, JiaT75 submitted a patch over the xz Utils mailing list, and, almost immediately, a never-before-seen participant named Jigar Kumar joined the discussion and argued that Lasse Collin, the longtime maintainer of xz Utils, hadn’t been updating the software often or fast enough. Kumar, with the support of Dennis Ens and several other people who had never had a presence on the list, pressured Collin to bring on an additional developer to maintain the project.

In January 2023, JiaT75 made their first commit to xz Utils. In the months following, JiaT75, who used the name Jia Tan, became increasingly involved in xz Utils affairs. For instance, Tan replaced Collins' contact information with their own on oss-fuzz, a project that scans open source software for vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Tan also requested that oss-fuzz disable the ifunc function during testing, a change that prevented it from detecting the malicious changes Tan would soon make to xz Utils.

In February of this year, Tan issued commits for versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1 of xz Utils. The updates implemented the backdoor. In the following weeks, Tan or others appealed to developers of Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Debian to merge the updates into their OSes. Eventually, one of the two updates made its way into the following releases, according to security firm Tenable:

There’s more about Tan and the timeline here .

reader comments

Promoted comments.

It should be noted that the attack only works because Debian and Redhat added functionality to sshd that is not present in it as distributed by its developers. The extra functionality adds systemd interaction, which requires libsystemd which requires liblzma, a component of the (compromised) xz package. One should be wary of distributions adding functionality. Often it increases the attack surface, not only because of the modifications/additions themselves, but also by adding dependencies.

So a prime reason this became potentially exploitable is libsystemd in OpenSSH. Need I say more.

The prime reason is a very well funded and capable attacker looked for a way in. if not xz or systemd then they would have attacked via the next candidate weak point.

"This developer persona has touched dozens of other pieces of open-source software in the past few years.". Well, I guess the Opensource community have some codes to review. Maybe the xz incident is only the tips of the iceberg.

Channel Ars Technica

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Working With Your Hands Is Good for Your Brain

Activities like writing, gardening and knitting can improve your cognition and mood. Tapping, typing and scrolling? Less so.

By Markham Heid

The human hand is a marvel of nature. No other creature on Earth, not even our closest primate relatives , has hands structured quite like ours, capable of such precise grasping and manipulation.

But we’re doing less intricate hands-on work than we used to. A lot of modern life involves simple movements, such as tapping screens and pushing buttons, and some experts believe our shift away from more complex hand activities could have consequences for how we think and feel.

“When you look at the brain’s real estate — how it’s divided up, and where its resources are invested — a huge portion of it is devoted to movement, and especially to voluntary movement of the hands,” said Kelly Lambert, a professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Richmond in Virginia.

Dr. Lambert, who studies effort-based rewards, said that she is interested in “the connection between the effort we put into something and the reward we get from it” and that she believes working with our hands might be uniquely gratifying.

In some of her research on animals , Dr. Lambert and her colleagues found that rats that used their paws to dig up food had healthier stress hormone profiles and were better at problem solving compared with rats that were given food without having to dig.

She sees some similarities in studies on people, which have found that a whole range of hands-on activities — such as knitting , gardening and coloring — are associated with cognitive and emotional benefits, including improvements in memory and attention, as well as reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms.

These studies haven’t determined that hand involvement, specifically, deserves the credit. The researchers who looked at coloring, for example, speculated that it might promote mindfulness, which could be beneficial for mental health. Those who have studied knitting said something similar. “The rhythm and repetition of knitting a familiar or established pattern was calming, like meditation,” said Catherine Backman, a professor emeritus of occupational therapy at the University of British Columbia in Canada who has examined the link between knitting and well-being.

However, Dr. Backman said the idea that working with one’s hands could benefit a person’s mind and wellness seems plausible. Hands-on tasks that fully engage our attention — and even mildly challenge us — can support learning, she added.

Dr. Lambert has another hypothesis. “With depression, people experience something called learned helplessness, where they feel like it doesn’t matter what they do, nothing ever works,” she said. She believes that working with one’s hands is stimulating to the brain, and that it could even help counteract this learned helplessness. “When you put in effort and can see the product of that, like a scarf you knitted, I think that builds up a sense of accomplishment and control over your world,” she said.

Some researchers have zeroed in on the possible repercussions of replacing relatively complicated hand tasks with more basic ones.

In a small study of university students published in January, Norwegian researchers compared the neurological effects of writing by hand with typing on a keyboard. Handwriting was associated with “far more elaborate” brain activity than keyboard writing, the researchers found.

“With handwriting, you have to form these intricate letters by making finely controlled hand and finger movements,” said Audrey van der Meer, one of the authors of that study and a professor of psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Each letter is different, she explained, and requires a different hand action.

Dr. Van der Meer said that the act of forming a letter activates distinctive memories and brain pathways tied to what that letter represents (such as the sound it makes and the words that include it). “But when you type, every letter is produced by the same very simple finger movement, and as a result you use your whole brain much less than when writing by hand,” she added.

Dr. Van der Meer’s study is the latest in a series of research efforts in which she and her colleagues have found that writing and drawing seem to engage and exercise the brain more than typing on a keyboard. “Skills involving fine motor control of the hands are excellent training and superstimulation for the brain,” she said. “The brain is like a muscle, and if we continue to take away these complex movements from our daily lives — especially fine motor movements — I think that muscle will weaken.” While more research is needed, Dr. Van der Meer posits that understimulation of the brain could ultimately lead to deficits in attention, memory formation and problem solving.

But as with knitting and coloring, some experts question the underlying mechanisms at play.

“With some of this research, I think it’s hard to dissociate whether it’s the physical movement of the hands that’s producing a benefit, or whether it’s the concentration or novelty or cognitive challenge involved,” said Rusty Gage, a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego.

Dr. Gage studies how certain activities can stimulate the growth of new cells in the brain. “I think if you’re doing complex work that involves making decisions and planning, that may matter more than whether you’re using your hands,” he said.

That said, the benefits of many hands-on activities aren’t in doubt. Along with gardening and handicrafts, research has found that pursuits like making art and playing a musical instrument also seem to do us some good.

“You know, we evolved in a three-dimensional world, and we evolved to interact with that world through our hands,” Dr. Lambert said. “I think there are a lot of reasons why working with our hands may be prosperous for our brains.”

Taiwan earthquake: an earthquake scientist on what we know so far and what may happen next

Earthquake Scientist, Monash University

Disclosure statement

Dee Ninis works for Seismology Research Centre, and is Vice President of the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society.

Monash University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

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Earlier today, a major earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck the central east coast of Taiwan, roughly 20 kilometres south of the city of Hualien.

Locals near the epicentre described severe to violent ground shaking during the quake – strong enough to make standing and driving a vehicle difficult. It was reportedly felt across the country, as well as in neighbouring China.

So, what do we know so far about the quake and what the impacts may be?

Read more: Morocco earthquake: experts explain why buildings couldn’t withstand the force of the 6.8 magnitude quake

Death and damage

News outlets have reported at least four people have died and dozens were injured as a result of the quake.

While much of Taiwan’s population lives on the west coast of the country, Hualien City is one of the largest population centres on the east coast. Its population is roughly 100,000 .

Building damage has been reported in the region near the epicentre of the earthquake, including in Hualien City.

Landslides also occurred along the mountainous central east coast.

A tsunami warning was issued for Taiwan and nearby countries including Japan and the Philippines. At the time of writing, a 30 cm tsunami was reported along the south coast of Japan. This would have shown up as a noticeable swell on the shore but is unlikely to cause significant damage.

The biggest surge in a tsunami is not always the first surge so it is possible a larger tsunami wave may eventuate, but as time passes this becomes increasingly unlikely.

Was there any warning?

Although earthquakes cannot be predicted, Taiwan has an early warning system .

This system detects ground shaking as it happens in the epicentral region, and immediately sends an alert which travels faster than the seismic energy and associated ground shaking.

It likely provided crucial seconds of warning for those living away from the epicentre to take cover.

What kind of quake was it?

Initial estimates suggest the earthquake rupture began between 10 and 40 kilometres beneath the earth’s surface.

A shallower earthquake will generally produce stronger ground shaking than a deeper earthquake, and is therefore more likely to result in damage to nearby buildings.

The latest analysis of data from this earthquake suggests the earthquake was at the shallow end of this range, and likely produced a rupture which broke the surface. Satellite data of the Earth’s surface will tell us more about ground deformation within the coming days.

The earthquake rupture occurred on a reverse fault. This is where the quake lifts up one side of the Earth’s crust relative to the other. This can produce a vertical displacement of the ocean floor, which can generate a tsunami.

Approximately three hours after the initial quake, there have already been 13 aftershocks greater than magnitude 5.0 – all large enough to produce their own ground shaking across much of the country.

Strong aftershocks may cause the collapse of buildings that were only damaged in the main shock.

A history of quakes in the area

The Hualien region has experienced earthquakes before.

In February 2018, this region produced an earthquake of magnitude 6.4, which sadly resulted in 17 deaths.

That earthquake was the main event of a sequence of seismic events in early 2018, including a foreshock of magnitude 6.1. A foreshock is an earthquake of smaller magnitude which precedes a larger earthquake in the same region within days or weeks. We don’t know a quake is a foreshock until the mainshock occurs.

According to my analysis of available earthquake data, the Hualien region experiences earthquakes bigger than magnitude 7 about once every 30 years.

The largest recent recorded earthquake in onshore Taiwan was the magnitude 7.6 Chi-Chi quake (sometimes spelled in English as the Jiji quake) that struck in 1999.

More than 2,400 people lost their lives as a result of this earthquake.

Today’s magnitude 7.4 earthquake will likely continue to produce aftershocks for days and weeks to come.

We can’t rule out the possibility today’s earthquake was not even the biggest event in this sequence, although as time passes the likelihood of a larger associated event decreases.

Where can I get more information?

Be cautious about what you see or read on social media; in the initial aftermath of a natural disaster people often share footage that actually depicts other disasters.

For updates, I recommend following Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration , which is reporting on aftershocks and tsunami warnings as more information comes to hand.

Read more: Earthquakes can change the course of rivers – with devastating results. We may now be able to predict these threats

• Earthquakes
• Earthquake risk
• Tsunami warning

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How to write a great technical blog post

Five steps to get from idea to polished result

I’ve been working in the open source community for almost 5 years now, building and promoting developer tools including Meteor and Apollo . In that time, I’ve found that blogging is one of the most effective ways to spread ideas.

A blog post doesn’t take as long to prepare as a video or conference talk, but is easy to consume and can reach a ton of people. I’ve also personally gotten a ton of benefit out of writing: it has helped me organize my thoughts, teach people about technologies I love, and get my name out there.

Since publishing my first blog post ever in 2014, I’ve ended up writing 68 posts so far here on Medium, some with over 50k views and 1000 fans, and edited many posts for my friends and coworkers. Over that time, I’ve picked up a few strategies for taking a post from concept to publication.

In this article, we’ll go over five main steps of my process for writing a post:

• Find a good topic and commit to it
• Make your goals and audience specific
• Have a beginning, middle, and end
• Get feedback and iterate
• Add finishing touches: packaging, publication, and promotion

Let’s get right into the first step!

1. Find a good topic and commit to it

You can’t get started on a post unless you have something to write about! When I talk to people who want to start blogging, this is often their main blocker.

The simplest strategy is to write about what you know. If you spent many hours learning about something, and you think you could explain it in just a few minutes, you’re going to provide a lot of value to your readers.

Another idea is to write about an area you think is lacking content. For example, right now there aren’t a lot of posts about how to apply to technical conferences, so content about that could fill a gap in the community.

Here are some specific types of posts you could go for. Examples are from the GraphQL-related posts on the Apollo blog:

• A step-by-step guide to achieving a specific goal: “Building a great scrollable list in React Native with FlatList” or “Simplify your React components with Apollo and Recompose” . These are great for readers that are looking to get in, do a thing, and get out fast.
• An in-depth survey on a particular topic: “Using nullability in GraphQL” or “Anatomy of a GraphQL query” . These are useful if you’re targeting a more interested audience that wants to grab a cup of coffee and learn a ton.
• A numbered list of useful facts around a common topic: “4 simple ways to call a GraphQL API” or “5 benefits of static GraphQL queries” . These are a fun, lightweight read since you don’t have to commit to reading the whole thing, and it’s easy to consume the bite-sized pieces.

Now, let me dispel a few common concerns:

• There is already content out there about this topic. Don’t let that stop you. Even if your idea has been written about before, you can put your own perspective on it, or make it specific to your situation.
• My idea isn’t interesting enough. A lot of my friends and coworkers don’t end up writing because they are worried their conclusions might be boring or obvious. That’s a normal feeling! If you’re an expert on something, then of course the conclusions you’re writing about will be boring… to you . The key is that people in your audience don’t know that stuff yet.

Having said all that, at the end of the day, it’s hard to predict what topics will make a great post and which ones won’t, and often it’s the execution that makes or breaks a post, not a brilliant topic. My main suggestion would be to try writing about several different things and see what works.

2. Make your goals and audience specific

Now that you know your topic, you need an audience and goal for your post. Who will be reading it, and what are they going to get out of it?

Your goal needs to be specific so that you can focus all of your energy on one main idea. For this post, the goal couldn’t have just been “write about blogging”. I needed a more specific goal in mind:

• Audience: People who want to start blogging, especially about technical topics, but haven’t done it yet.
• Goal: Give people a concrete set of steps and pointers so they can get started.

Once you have these, keep your post focused by removing anything that doesn’t contribute, and avoid adding extra detail just because it’s related. I’ve found that relatively concise posts with a 5 - 10 minute read time are the most successful.

Knowing the background of your audience will allow you to tailor your writing to their existing knowledge, and can help determine how you should publish and promote your content. For example, I hope to publish this on freeCodeCamp, because a lot of people in my target audience might already read that publication.

3. Have a beginning, middle, and end

It’s disorienting when a post veers off in a direction you weren’t expecting. Plot twists can be a big benefit in fictional short stories, but it’s easier to consume a technical article if you get exactly what you expect. You can keep your readers on track by giving your post a comfortable structure.

Introduction

The first paragraph or two of your post will either convince the reader to stay on or lose their attention. Start off with a little bit of context to help people understand where your post fits into the big picture. Then, tell your audience what they will get out of reading your article. It might be tempting to leave the big reveal for the end, but watch out: if you don’t have a good hook, your readers won’t stick around to find out.

Now that you’ve told your readers what to expect, give it to them! Feel free to go into as much detail as you need, and leave sign-posts along the way to orient people. Use a lot of headings, numbered lists, and formatting to help people understand where they are, and enable them to skip around to the content they are most interested in.

Don’t just taper off into the void at the end of the article. If your reader has made it all the way there, they really care. Give them a quick summary of what they learned, a pat on the back for reading, and maybe even something to do next if they’re inspired - a call to action.

The format I’m suggesting here isn’t the most creative, and there are certainly other ways of doing it. But a simple structure is the most direct way to communicate with your readers.

4. Get feedback and iterate

You won’t know what people are going to get from your writing until they read it. This is where your assumptions about your topic, goals, the details of the post, and the structure are really put to the test. If you want to have a good result, you can’t skip this step.

It might feel like you’re imposing when you ask for feedback, or you might be worried that it will be negative, but people are more willing to help than you expect. It’s much better to find out how your post could be better before you publish it to the world. When I was putting together this post, I got some super valuable feedback that made the content much better and more focused.

What should you ask your reviewers? My main advice is to leave it as open-ended as possible. Try not to explain up front what you meant to achieve. Hand over the draft as-is, and ask your reviewer what they got out of it or what should be changed. When someone on the Internet comes across your article, they won’t have any extra context and it has to stand on its own.

The main thing to validate from the feedback is: will this post achieve the goals you decided on in step 2? Iterate until you’re confident it will.

5. Add finishing touches: packaging, publication, and promotion

Now that you have the idea, the goal, the structure, and some feedback, it’s time to polish everything up and ship it.

Come up with a great title and subtitle, and make sure your post has at least one image. This is what people will see when the post is shared on Twitter or Facebook, and it’s your chance to get people interested in reading.

It’s also important that your post looks and feels professional, so that your content can really shine. You should aim to have no spelling errors, grammar mistakes, or weird formatting in your post. If you have a friend that is great at spotting small details, ask them to read it over before publishing.

The freeCodeCamp article about getting published also has some great tips about writing style and formatting. Since you’ve already put so much work into your post, it’s worth it to add that little extra effort to really polish it up and give it a wider reach.

Finally, make sure to credit anyone whose work you referenced, or who helped review and edit your post.

Publication

You’re almost there! Pick where you actually publish the post so that it has the best chance of reaching your audience. Medium is generally a great place for technical content, and makes it easy for people to discover your writing.

For bonus points, try to get your post into a relevant publication that will help share your content - in this case, I’ve selected freeCodeCamp because I think this advice will be relevant to their readers. If you’d like to do the same, here are their directions for submitting your post . Publications in your areas of interest are likely also looking for posts, so don’t be afraid to get in touch!

Once you’ve actually published the post, you’re not done! If you want people to see what you’ve written and get value out of it, make sure to share it in the places where your audience is likely to hang out. This might include Facebook groups, Reddit, Hacker News, LinkedIn, or any other platform. Also, make sure to share your creation on your own social media accounts, like Twitter. Your friends will be excited to read, share, and upvote what you’ve written!

And now, you’re done. Go get a coffee or take a walk - taking a blog post from start to finish is no small feat. Read any feedback and replies from the the community so that you can keep improving. And when you have another idea, go do it again!

There’s no replacement for practice

We just walked through five of the most important things to do when writing a blog post, from coming up with the idea to publishing. Now that you’ve read it, you try applying this advice and see what works for you.

I’ll leave you with one last bit of advice. The main thing I learned from blogging over the last 3 years is that I absolutely can’t predict what content will take off and what will end up being a total dud. Sometimes, I’ll put several days into a post, polishing every corner, and it won’t go anywhere. On the other hand, “GraphQL vs. REST” , my most-read post ever, was written in a few hours late at night.

So even if your first, or second, or third posts don’t succeed, keep trying new stuff, putting your ideas out there, and improving over time. The world wants to hear what you’ve got to say. Go tell them!

Huge thanks to Anvisha Pai , Angela Zhang , Katie Siegel , and the freeCodeCamp editors for helping review this post.

Read more posts .

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Microsoft customers complain Copilot doesn't work as well as ChatGPT. Microsoft says they're not using it right.

• A top complaint from Microsoft's customers is that Copilot doesn't perform as well as OpenAI's ChatGPT.
• Microsoft says customers aren't using its new artificial-intelligence tools properly.
• The company is paying a partner to produce videos to teach customers how to write better prompts.

One of the top customer complaints about Microsoft 's Copilot is that it doesn't seem to work as well as ChatGPT , according to employees with direct knowledge of customer feedback.

"Every time a customer starts using it, they start comparing it to ChatGPT and saying, 'Aren't you guys using the same technology?'" one of the people said.

ChatGPT, OpenAI 's artificial-intelligence chatbot, has set relatively high expectations for customers who are now trying out Microsoft Copilot tools for the first time. The software giant's efforts to meet those expectations is an important test as the AI industry attempts to switch users from free consumer chatbot offerings to something more valuable.

Microsoft is racing to add value to these AI tools before customers start asking whether they're getting a proper return from the extra money they're spending on this much-hyped technology.

Copilot vs. ChatGPT

Copilot for Microsoft 365 has reached the most customers so far after the company made it generally available in November. This is a version of the AI assistant that works alongside the company's suite of business applications such as Word, Outlook, and Teams.

Feedback for the tool has been mixed to leaning positive so far, according to the Microsoft employees who spoke with BI.

There are the usual Microsoft problems: Some customers are using older versions of products such as the Outlook email service, and they expect whizbang AI Copilot capabilities to work with this somewhat aging software.

But Microsoft employees told BI the comparisons with ChatGPT kept coming up. These sources asked not to be identified discussing private matters.

The "work" version of the Copilot tool uses internal customer data to help provide automated support to employees working on tasks such as summarizing meetings.

It queries this sensitive information from sources including Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration software. This sometimes means responses aren't as quick or thorough as a free and open web-based chatbot such as ChatGPT that's been trained on information from the entire internet.

Microsoft employees told BI that customers who were saying this Copilot tool didn't compare favorably with ChatGPT just didn't understand how the different products work.

This was confirmed by Jared Spataro, Microsoft's corporate vice president of AI at work, in an interview arranged by the company.

Microsoft's Copilot tools are built on what the company calls the Azure OpenAI model. This takes OpenAI's top GPT models and adds additional capabilities.

Related stories

These GPT models provide a broad foundation of knowledge. Copilots essentially sit on top of this and tap private customer data to provide bespoke support in specific work situations. The system naturally has more restrictions, according to Microsoft employees. For instance, it only temporarily accesses internal data and then deletes it after each query.

Teaching customers how to prompt

Another problem for Microsoft is that users are typically bad at writing prompts, the employees say. These are special instructions that get the most out of AI models and chatbots. There's even a new job for this emerging skill, known as prompt engineering .

"It's a copilot, not an autopilot, you have to work with it," one Microsoft staffer told BI.

The answer an AI tool gives can only be as good as the question asked. "If you don't ask the right question, it will still do its best to give you the right answer, and it can assume things," this person added.

One of the employees said Microsoft had hired its partner BrainStorm to create training videos to help customers create better prompts for Copilot. Microsoft and BrainStorm declined to comment on this.

Some Microsoft customers have even created their own internal teams to help train staff on how to make the best use of these AI tools.

Spataro said Microsoft had put a lot of work into providing support for prompt engineering within the Copilot for Microsoft 365 product itself, such as with FAQs and prompt examples.

'Work' Copilot vs. 'web' Copilot

A source of customer confusion is that there's a "work" version of Copilot for Microsoft 365 and a "web" version of the tool.

The web-based version generates similar outputs to ChatGPT and runs in a similar way. Meanwhile, the "work" version is the one that uses internal private customer data to provide more bespoke and specific responses.

For instance, a Microsoft customer may use the web version of Copilot to search publicly available information about a client. Then they could switch to the work version to find out what extra information is available about this client from internal corporate data.

Still, employees told BI that customers were getting confused about why the "work" version wasn't giving responses as quickly or as thoroughly as the web-based Copilot.

Spataro said Microsoft had been taking measures to help customers understand how these different Copilot offerings operate. For instance, the company is introducing a toggle switch so customers can swap between the "web" and the "work" version of Copilot to help them understand which dataset — the web or their internal files stored within SharePoint — is being queried.

"Copilot for Microsoft 365 is unlike any other AI experience at work, with a deep understanding of your job and organization that combines top of the line AI models, the web, and your business data to enable new scenarios that directly impact the bottom line in a way that wasn't possible before generative AI," Spataro said in a statement.

Are you a Microsoft employee or someone else with insight to share?

Contact Ashley Stewart via email ( [email protected] ), or send a secure message from a non-work device via Signal (+1-425-344-8242).

Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, has a global deal to allow OpenAI to train its models on its media brands' reporting.

Watch: What is ChatGPT, and should we be afraid of AI chatbots?

• Main content

Play Minecraft Games with Game Pass

ALSO AVAILABLE ON:

Minecraft is available to play on the following platforms:

*Mac and Linux are compatible with Java Edition only.

Poisonous Potato Update

The (s)mashing update you always asked for!

Imagine being a potato. Now imagine being the potato’s less popular sibling who didn’t inherit the tuber-licious looks the rest of your family possesses. What’s worse is – you're facing the impossible decision of what to do with all this starch? Since neither French fries nor couch potato sat right with you, there's only one option remaining. Congratulations friend, you’re a poisonous potato. 

For years, Minecraft’s own toxic tuber has been neglected and underappreciated, lacking both purpose and usefulness. For years, you – the community – tried to highlight this, working tirelessly to bring it to our attention and literally begging us for more functionality. As of today, your concerns are a thing of the past. 

Mojang Studios is proud to release our most well-boiled update to date that will add so much usability to the poisonous potato that even tater-haters will become devoted spud-buds. The Poisonous Potato Update – rich in both carbs AND features! You asked. We delivered. Or maybe you didn’t ask, but we delivered anyway? In any case, it is HERE! 

GET THE SNAPSHOT UPDATE 

Snapshots are available for Minecraft: Java Edition. To install the snapshot, open up the Minecraft Launcher and enable snapshots in the "Installations" tab. You can even play the snapshot on your own Java Realms together with your friends! 

Remember, snapshots can corrupt your world, so please back up your world and/or run the snapshot in a different folder from your main worlds.  

-> DOWNLOAD THE CROSS-PLATFORM SERVER JAR

Poisonous potato add-on.

The roots of the poisonous potato run deep within Minecraft and extends far beyond Java Edition. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the tuber-lar sensation has spread its influence to Bedrock Edition as well. With Jigarbov’s Poisonous Potato add-on , you’ll be able to experience the joy of the poisonous potato the way it was always intended – through blocks and furniture to weapons and armor.

-> GET THE ADD-ON

Gameplay & features.

• Poisonous potatoes – LOTS of poisonous potatoes! 
• A few normal potatoes too! 
• The homeland of all potato kind
• Five spud-tastic biomes: fields, hash, arboretum, corruption, and wasteland 
• Experience the life of a potato – from its inception as a raw potato picked from the fields, through cooked hash browns, to its eventual decay
• Local weather with a-mashing effects 
• Added the Colosseum, home to the lord of potato kind... 
• A whole sack of a-peeling new blocks 
• Rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and Niacin! 
• No new mineral blocks. No need! The blocks themselves contain minerals: Potassium, Magnesium, and Iron! 
• Added the frying table – everyone asked for it, so we added it. It fries potato things. It's a really nice model! 
• Added functionality to the fletching table. You can now fletch toxic resin into more refined versions of the resin. 
• Added impurities because purity is overrated 
• Added a whole bunch new gadgets that will tune your poisonous potato game up to eleven! 
• You get it by now. They’re all poisonous potatoes... 

TECHNICAL CHANGES 

• The flux capacitor integration now synergizes with quantum voxelization, which enables a 360-noscope enhancing real-time RTX terrain-rendering nightshade multibox spectrum acceleration while optimizing transdimensional entity synchronization for seamless vitelotte-king edwards-russel burbank experiences! 

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DOWNLOAD THE UPDATE?

Then you will be the proud owner of the file that contains the update. 

WHAT CAN I EXPECT IN TERMS OF GAMEPLAY?  

Poisonous potatoes. We hope this article has made that perfectly clear. 

I DON’T BELIEVE I ASKED FOR THIS UPDATE, IF I’M HONEST. 

You might not have – but your brain (or maybe belly) did! 

ARE THERE CURRENTLY ANY OTHER CARB-BASED UPDATES IN THE WORKS? 

Great question! Please look forward to the Radioactive Rice Update and Toxic Taro Update in the very distant future! 

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