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How do I build a technical writing portfolio?

My background is in physics, so my writing opportunities outside of lab reports have been limited. Where do I start in building a portfolio without specific tasks to fulfill? I start a master's program in Technical Communications this fall. I know those assignments will likely help as well, I just wanted to get a head start if I can.

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Chris’s Answer

Hi Olivia, being a Technical Writer is just one of the many content jobs you can explore, like UX Writer, Content Designer, and Content Strategist. When thinking about your portfolio, consider two things: the technology you use to build it and the content you want to showcase. It's important to not only create your portfolio but also keep it updated throughout your career.

Based on your technical skills, you can make your own portfolio website, showing that you know how to build websites. You can use free services or the free version of paid ones. Notion is a popular choice. You can also choose a paid portfolio service. I recently went with a paid service because my main goal was to tell my story through my work examples, not just to create a portfolio.

I suggest you try Uxfolio at https://uxfol.io/ because 1) It's pretty user-friendly and you can try it for free, 2) They offer free webinars to give you advice, and 3) Their documentation could be improved, which means you could write documentation for it and use that in your portfolio. This way, you get a portfolio that's easy to share, free training, and a chance to create a new use case.

Good luck with your advanced degree!
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Christi’s Answer

I have a technical writing degree, and most of my earliest portfolio examples came from projects I did in school and during internships over the summer. To get a head start, I always think writing instructions out on how to do a common problem can show a lot about a writer's process. For example, at a company I worked at previously, we asked technical writing candidates to complete a short assignment during the interview on how to make a sandwich. You'd be surprised how bad some of the instructions were for such a 'simple' task (even from very senior candidates). I've also seen portfolio samples from people who did writing work at volunteer organizations - a few examples from an animal shelter were some of my favorites.
As others said, think outside the box! I hope the suggestions I provided were helpful.
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Ninu’s Answer

I’d suggest you just start writing.

Identify a few social publishing platforms like Medium that align with your style, and commit to writing weekly about something you’ve learned or are currently learning. This will serve as your evolving portfolio.

Understand your target audience—what they value, how they consume content, and what keeps them engaged.

Practice breaking down complex concepts using simple analogies or visuals like diagrams. Explore AI tools that can support or enhance your writing process.

That said, always lead with your own creativity and voice. AI-generated content can be a helpful enabler, but your originality and skill should be at the core of everything you write.
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David’s Answer

Hi Olivia. You might find an opportunity to write some user-facing software documentation. Here's a list of open source software projects focused on physics that might be looking for someone to volunteer to work on their documentation: https://github.com/wbierbower/awesome-physics
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Rich’s Answer

You can take a software and write your own instructions of it. Or you can any item in your home that needed assembly and create instructions for it. If you are looking to get into insurance and medicine then write up a policy or describe a medical device respectively. Good luck
Thank you comment icon Thank you! I'll look into the software systems I've used and start there. I really appreciate the advice! Olivia
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Joseph’s Answer

Technical writers create guides for specific groups of people, such as software developers, system administrators, or end users.

If you've used software in your studies, you can write about how the software helps solve certain problems. You can also explain what information is needed to fix a problem and give step-by-step instructions on how to use the software to solve it.
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