Everyone says that technical writing is mostly about communicating, not writing. And it’s true — a technical writing job involves communication with members of other teams: developers, designers, SMEs, and the like, to learn more about a product. But what if you’re an introvert, is this job for you? Let’s talk about it here.

Technical writing is a social career as are most other careers in general, so you’ll have to communicate with other people in different ways — face-to-face, via emails, and so on. Unfortunately, communication can be unpleasant because we are people and anyone can forget something or have a bad day; that’s why technical writers have to chase people down for info they need, remind about themselves constantly, and even communicate with unresponsive professionals. More details are here: ‘How to Handle an Unresponsive SME’.

However, if you really want to work as a technical writer, don’t give up your dream. Firstly, let’s make it clear what do you mean by “I’m an introvert”? Does it mean that it’s difficult for you to collaborate with people or you have social anxiety?

If it’s difficult for you to collaborate with people, you usually avoid interaction with people, even in the slightest, then technical writing, probably, is not your thing. But it doesn’t mean that you should forget about your dream to become a technical writer, you can get some help with that and work on those soft skills. Remember, you’re not alone in that struggle, there are lots of people who struggle with that and can help you.

If you’re shy, for example, and you don’t have social anxiety, you can work as a technical writer. Soft skills and the ability to communicate with people will come with experience. However, make sure to take care of yourself and don’t forget about to “recharge your batteries” after a socially engaging day.

I also want to provide you with some books that will help you understand yourself and to take as more pleasant moments from interaction with people as it’s possible.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over working in teams. It is to introverts — Rosa Parks, Chopin, Dr. Seuss, Steve Wozniak — that we owe many of the great contributions to society.

In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts — from a witty, high-octane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves.

The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World

At least one out of four people prefers to avoid the limelight, tends to listen more than they speak, feels alone in large groups, and requires lots of private time to restore their energy. They’re introverts, and here is the book to help them boost their confidence while learning strategies for successfully living in an extrovert world.

After dispelling common myths about introverts, The Introvert Advantage explains the real issues. Introverts are hardwired from birth to focus inward, so outside stimulation-chitchat, phone calls, parties, office meetings can easily become “too much.”The Introvert Advantage dispels introverts’ belief that something is wrong with them and instead helps them recognize their inner strengths-their analytical skills, ability to think outside the box and strong powers of concentration.

It helps readers understand introversion and shows them how to determine where they fall on the introvert/extrovert continuum. The book provides tools to improve relationships with partners, kids, colleagues, and friends, offering dozens of tips, including 10 ways to talk less and communicate more, 8 ways to showcase your abilities at work, how to take a child’s temperament temperature, and strategies for socializing.

Finally, it shows how to not just survive, but thrive-how to take advantage of the introvert’s special qualities to create a life that’s just right for the introvert temperament, to discover new ways to expand their energy reserves, and even how, when necessary, to confidently become a temporary extrovert.

Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life Is Your Hidden Strength

Psychologist and introvert Laurie Helgoe unveils the genius of introversion. Introverts gain energy and power through reflection and solitude. Our culture, however, is geared toward the extrovert. The pressure to get out there and get happier can lead people to think that an inward orientation is a problem instead of an opportunity.

Helgoe shows that the exact opposite is true: introverts can capitalize on this inner source of power. Introvert Power is a blueprint for how introverts can take full advantage of this hidden strength in daily life.

Revolutionary and invaluable, Introvert Power includes ideas for how introverts can learn to:

• Claim private space.
• Bring a slower tempo into daily life.
• Deal effectively with parties, interruptions, and crowds.

Are you an introvert or extrovert? What do you think about whether an introvert can be a tech writer or not?