By: Nik Korba
The Amazon Echo, Nintendo Switch, and Apple AirPods are just a few examples of game-changing technological innovations over the past decade. Each introduced impressive new capabilities but required users to understand new concepts. To explain those concepts in a way that the average consumer could grasp, the developers of those products turned to technical writers.
Sally Derian is a technical writer who transforms complex concepts into user-friendly content. Derian helps tech companies effectively showcase their offerings across business platforms by focusing on users and data-driven tactics.
“Most tech companies struggle to communicate their innovations effectively,” Derian says. “That’s where I come in—bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical business applications.”
Derian’s approach to technical writing results in communication catalyzing business growth. She covers marketing, sales, and customer relations, effectively connecting technology with real-world business needs. By leveraging her knowledge of startups and mergers and acquisitions as change management strategies, she helps businesses communicate their innovations in a way that improves self-service options, enhances customer satisfaction, and drives digital transformation.
“In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, clear communication is a company’s most underutilized asset,” Derian explains. “My approach ensures a company’s message resonates across all business channels, turning technical jargon into clear, impactful communication that fuels business growth.”
Derian’s Unique Path to Becoming a Technical Writer
The standard pathway to a career in technical writing involves obtaining a writing-related degree and a technical writing certification, then entering the field and building your network and portfolio. Derian took a different route.
“My journey into technical writing wasn’t a straight path; it was more like navigating the complex networks I now document,” Derian shares. “I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of technology and communication, which naturally led me to explore the realms of internet governance, legal compliance, and software-as-a-service. But it was the world of enterprise operations and business strategy that truly captured my imagination.”
As Derian understood the challenges businesses face in connecting products with consumers, she saw the value that technical writing brings to the marketplace.
“The beauty of technical writing is not just about explaining how things work; it’s about making technology itself more accessible and operational on a global scale,” Derian says. “While I considered paths in pure tech operations or traditional business roles, I found that technical writing offered a unique opportunity to be a translator of sorts—bridging the language gap between intricate concepts and the people who need to understand them.”
The Skill Set That Fuels Derian’s Success
Writing and editing skills are critical for technical writers, forming the foundation of their work. However, other skills are needed to excel in the profession. Derian points to three skills beyond writing that have contributed to her success, starting with adaptive learning.
Technical writers must be able to quickly assess the information they are working with and repackage it effectively for their target audience. Adaptive learning helps them achieve that goal.
“The tech world moves at lightning speed,” Derian says. “Your ability to quickly grasp new concepts and technologies is paramount. It’s about learning and rapidly synthesizing information to make it accessible to others.”
Derian says that cross-functional collaboration skills are also valuable to technical writers. It allows for open communication, knowledge sharing, and the development of shared goals. Writers who foster collaboration can streamline the technical writing process, eliminating the silos that contribute to costly communication inefficiencies.
“In my experience, the most impactful documentation emerges from close collaboration with diverse teams,” Derian says. “You need to be comfortable engaging with everyone from developers to C-suite executives, extracting key insights, and translating them into clear, actionable content.”
The most effective technical writers will be skilled at strategic communication because their writing must consider the content and the overall goal of the communication to balance clarity and impact.
“Strategic communication is about understanding the ‘why’ behind each piece of documentation,” Derian explains. “How does it align with business goals? How will it impact user experience or operational efficiency? This strategic thinking elevates technical writing from a support function to a core business driver.”
How Derian Stays Relevant in an Evolving Tech Landscape
Derian has learned that those who work with technology cannot afford to be complacent. As the saying goes, you either adapt or die. She recommends those who want to excel as technical writers cultivate curiosity and commit to lifelong learning.
“The most successful technical writers I’ve encountered are those who are genuinely interested in how things work and why,” Derian says. “This curiosity drives you to ask the right questions, dig deeper into complex topics, and produce content that truly serves its purpose.”
Derian leverages curiosity to stay educated on new trends and technologies that intersect with her work. For example, she is currently studying the implications of generative AI in the technical writing field. Proactively pursuing new learning, she stays ahead of the curve, sharpening her skills and gaining knowledge that helps her anticipate and adapt to evolving needs.
“Remember, as a technical writer, you’re not just documenting systems — you’re shaping how people interact with technology,” Derian says. “By staying curious, taking initiative, and committing to lifelong learning, you position yourself at the forefront of driving technological understanding and adoption.”
Published by: Martin De Juan
