To me, this is a good springboard from which to launch a campaign of awareness. Whether you realize it or not, writers are all around you. Laboring in the shadows, these talented individuals are, if you'll permit the metaphor, the wheels on the bus of business. You could still start the engine without them, but it would sure be hard to get anywhere.
Another unfortunate truth contained in the image above is that, like wheels, writers often bear a lot of the weight of corporate success without being considered as pretty or visible as the paint job, hood ornaments, or grill. This is a situation to which I can relate. When I was employed as a technical editor, I saw many brilliant individuals in my department working with a tireless sense of duty. Their creativity and commitment drove many successful documentation releases, without which the products that our company sold would have been incomprehensible. Despite this fact, however, technical publications is a field that often gets overlooked. These departments often fail to receive the hallowed title of "revenue generator," and therefore often face budget cuts that leave them unable to pursue improvements that would increase customer satisfaction.
So what does it take to be a revenue generator? Well, based on the explanations given in the link above, it takes having a tangible impact on the profit of a company. Okay, so by extension, wouldn't that mean that technical publications do generate revenue because they make products understandable to users? There, my friend, is the rub. Yes, they do, but not in a flashy way. People consult technical documents often at the pinnacle of their stress levels. They can't find the answer on their own, so they need help. As a result, it's not considered something people want to read, like marketing materials or business proposals. The mistake that often results from this correlation is the thought among executives that these resources aren't always necessary and are often more frustrating rather than helpful. Sure, this assertion might hold water in some cases, but the alternative is a far more confusing realm.
As an editor, I saw my fair share of technical information written by non-technical writers, whether these be product managers, engineers, or any other functions. There are occasions upon which these endeavors can work, such as when the audience aligns in understanding with the profession of the author. That said, without someone dedicated to exploring what customers need to find out and where they go to do so, much gets lost in translation. Research into the types of people using products, the way they use the products, and the places in which they expect to find valuable information about the products is invaluable. That's how technical writers generate revenue. Each day, through the very nature of their work, they gain an insight into how customers think.
Now, this isn't the only literary profession subject to the Invisible Writer Syndrome. As Cord Jefferson points out, journalists often get the short end of the stick in terms of the compensation they get for what they do and are often taken for granted in this age in which news just appears out of the ether. In fact, if you look in most departments at a company, from Marketing to Operations, you'll find various types of writers providing content that keeps the whole thing rolling.
This is not meant as a complaint. I celebrate my chosen profession and revel in the creative backflips it allows me each day. Think of it instead as a call to action. Notice those quiet scribblers tucked away in corner cubicles. Realize that just because they are not at the head of a board meeting or the face you see at business conferences does not mean that they deserve less than those that are. All those company blogs, Facebook updates, Twitter posts, proposals, and manuals come from somewhere. Look in that direction, and shine a light on the individuals there. You'll be glad you did.
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