Betsy Walters

I'm a older woman and I have worked since I was 15. A lot of odd jobs (as in, some were strange) or retail or in entertainment or software technology.

I've been a maid, an actress, an ice cream scooper, an usher at a Broadway theater, a student, an unemployed Technical Writer, an employed Technical Writer, a receptionist, a waitress, and I'm sure there are other "titles" I have held at work.

A Technical Writer is a writer who usually works in the technology industry (software, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical devices, networking, hardware, and so on). Anything technical can need a technical writer.

I have mostly worked in the networking software and cloud networking technology areas.

What I have done over the years is go into a new job, with no mentor or guidance, figured out my work duties, figured out the writing tools I'm to use, and figure out the technology I am going to write about. Sometimes, I have worked on a team of technical writers.

Technical Writer has become an accepted and respect career, it didn't start off that way. But it's gotten easier because nowadays companies know they need a technical writer and don't want to have their engineers write their documentation.

Technical Writers can get certifications such as the Society for Technical Communications certificate. Or you can get certification from other companies. Sometimes a job description will include must have a TW certificate.

I don't have one. It's expensive and up until now, I've always been employed either as a contractor or full time employee (usually getting laid off).

I have a BA in English and also a BA in Communications. These are the basis on which my career lies. I highly recommend getting a BA. If possible, get a MA in Technical Communications, you will earn more.

I also was a K-12 Theater Arts teacher but didn't like public school and went back to technical writing. I have tutored young people in writing.

I also am working on a novel. That's what got me writing in the first place, all the books with fascinating stories I read as a kid. I also used to journal every day. Need to get back to that!

I have ADHD so I became a Certified ADHD Life Coach but can also be a Life Coach. I'm not focusing on coaching at the moment. I also have other mental challenges, I think most artistic people do, but that's just my opinion.

When I answer a question I try to bring my experience, strength, and hope to my answer.