If you want a book about a specialist subject, you need to choose a writing and editorial team that can offer more than just a way with words. Someone who normally writes fiction may not have the knowledge or indeed the specific skills to get a technical message across. This is why knowing what to look for in an engineering technical writer and editor is essential if you want to produce books in this subject area.
Ideally you would like a person who has a background in engineering. However, not many engineers are great with words. If you can't find someone who can communicate the technical know-how efficiently, it's often better to look for someone with a background in writing and editing instead.
One reason why engineers don't automatically make a good choice is that they may assume that their readers will already understand the concepts in the text. However, someone new to the field may not always know what certain terms mean. People with a background in writing and editing know this and will ensure that they explain every concept in a way that is easy to understand.
Great technical writers and editors have excellent research skills. In fact, they like doing research and learning new things. They won't just take everything at face value but will think deeper about the facts to ensure that they really understand the subject before trying to find ways of explaining it to the reader.
Of course your team needs to have excellent language skills. While it's not essential for the author to have perfect spelling and grammar, it will certainly help. It will make the editor's job much easier, so that the project can be completed within a shorter time frame.
With a highly specialized text such as one aimed at engineers, quality control is essential. Someone needs to check not only that the right materials are mentioned but also the right measurements and calculations. After all, if someone were to try and construct something while using text full of mistakes, the construction would collapse. Therefore, once the text has been edited, it's a good idea to send it to a group of engineers to review.
If you don't already have access to a database of language practitioners who can be members of your team, one good route to go is to advertise the job on a freelancing website. Then, check the backgrounds of the different applicants to see whether they have the experience and expertise you need. Also go through the feedback each candidate has received from previous employers. You may also ask for a short writing or editing sample before making your final choice.
Finally, it helps to remember that, as with all things in life, you get what you pay for. If you're not offering market-related rates, the good writers and editors won't be interested in working for you. However, pay well and set realistic deadlines and you might have your pick of people who will be a real asset to your project.
Ideally you would like a person who has a background in engineering. However, not many engineers are great with words. If you can't find someone who can communicate the technical know-how efficiently, it's often better to look for someone with a background in writing and editing instead.
One reason why engineers don't automatically make a good choice is that they may assume that their readers will already understand the concepts in the text. However, someone new to the field may not always know what certain terms mean. People with a background in writing and editing know this and will ensure that they explain every concept in a way that is easy to understand.
Great technical writers and editors have excellent research skills. In fact, they like doing research and learning new things. They won't just take everything at face value but will think deeper about the facts to ensure that they really understand the subject before trying to find ways of explaining it to the reader.
Of course your team needs to have excellent language skills. While it's not essential for the author to have perfect spelling and grammar, it will certainly help. It will make the editor's job much easier, so that the project can be completed within a shorter time frame.
With a highly specialized text such as one aimed at engineers, quality control is essential. Someone needs to check not only that the right materials are mentioned but also the right measurements and calculations. After all, if someone were to try and construct something while using text full of mistakes, the construction would collapse. Therefore, once the text has been edited, it's a good idea to send it to a group of engineers to review.
If you don't already have access to a database of language practitioners who can be members of your team, one good route to go is to advertise the job on a freelancing website. Then, check the backgrounds of the different applicants to see whether they have the experience and expertise you need. Also go through the feedback each candidate has received from previous employers. You may also ask for a short writing or editing sample before making your final choice.
Finally, it helps to remember that, as with all things in life, you get what you pay for. If you're not offering market-related rates, the good writers and editors won't be interested in working for you. However, pay well and set realistic deadlines and you might have your pick of people who will be a real asset to your project.
About the Author:
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