Although this may be a gross simplification, I see technical communicators falling into two main groups: ones who are truly passionate about what they do, and others for whom it’s just a job. If you’re reading this blog, I hope you’re one of the passionate ones.

Passion, though, is a funny thing. It’s easy to become passionate about something. But the fire of that passion can also be easily dimmed or extinguished, often due to circumstances that are beyond your control.

Throughout your career, you’ll definitely find your passion waxing and waning. But holding on to that passion and nurturing it will make you a better technical communicator.

A personal example

In late 2001 and throughout most of 2002, I was plotting my exit from technical writing. At that time, a number of factors — both personal and professional — joined forces to happy slap the passion that I had for my job out of me. Some of those factors included my daughter being diagnosed with autism and the struggles my wife and I faced getting her the help that she needed; and working at a company that wouldn’t let me use my skills to their fullest extent, or expand upon them via training courses.

Suffice it to say that I was less than happy. So, what turned things around? I decided to do the best job that I could given the circumstances. I decided to take matters into my own hands to learn new skills — either through online courses or books. I decided to become a passionate advocate for both the users of the software that I was documenting and for the writers with whom I worked. Looking back, I know that I rubbed more than a couple of people the wrong way. But I was being true to myself, to my goals, and to what I thought a technical communicator should do.

During this time, I met Aaron — someone with a lot of the passion that I’d let dampen in myself, and with a lot of drive. Someone who had (and still has) ideas and goals in common with mine. We founded our company and had a glimpse of what the future could hold.

How you can lose your passion

This could be a lengthy blog post in itself. But one of the great passion killers can be the environment in which you work. You might be the sole writer in a development shop, and some developers might mistakenly believe that documentation isn’t necessary. You might not get the respect or recognition that you desire or deserve. Or, a big component of your job may be just editing and reformatting the work of others.

Another big factor is the restrictions on the way in which you can create documentation. You might have pedantic editors, a style guide that’s viewed as sacrosanct instead of being a set of guidelines, not having the proper tools, and more.

If you can add to this, please leave a comment.

What you can do when your passion is waning

Don’t give up or give in. It’s easy to to sit back and to a “just good enough” job. But if you’re in the business for a career and not just a pay packet then you’ll quickly learn that just good enough really isn’t.

Also, focus on why you entered the technical communications field in the first place. Concentrate on one or two aspects of the work that excited (or still excite) you. Mostly, focus on the future and not on now. Remember a previous post which advised seriously looking at your future? Keep your goals in the forefront, and take the steps that are needed to make those goals a reality. Build that foundation for the future.

When Aaron and I started DMN Communications, we had a set of goals. We gradually built on them; sometimes, it felt like the process was too gradual. But we stuck to our vision and finally went full out. Now, we’re happier and more fulfilled in our careers than we have been in a long time.

Learn as much as you can. Do the best job that you can, no matter how constrained your circumstances on the job may be. You’re not going to be in that position forever. When you move, you’ll be ready.

Finally, I’ll offer my stock piece of advice (and apologies if you’ve heard it before): take what you’re doing seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Technical communications is your career. It’s not your life. Maintaining a balance between the two is important, and can keep your passion alive.

Conclusion

Passion is easy to gain, but it’s just as easy to let the fires of that passion burn down. But if you’re serious about a career in technical communications, you need to hold on to that passion, and to fuel and nurture it.

Related posts:

1. Advice for the novice tech writer: think long term
2. Advice for the novice tech writer: be like an empty cup
3. Advice for the novice tech writer: writing isn’t enough