Before I fully committed to technical writing as a career, I went through countless YouTube videos and resources, both paid and unpaid, trying to gather as much information as possible about the field.
In that process, I learned how to separate valuable resources from time-wasters. Some looked promising but offered very little depth. Others provided practical insights that genuinely helped me improve.
If you are just starting out as a technical writer, this list should save you time and help you focus on materials that are actually useful.
Books Worth Reading
If you enjoy learning through books, here are a few that I and many others highly recommend:
- —Modern Technical Writing by Andrew Etter
- —The Insider’s Guide to Technical Writing by Krista Van Laan
- —Every Page Is Page One by Mark Baker
- —Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
- —The Docs as Code Primer by Gijs Reijn
Technical Writing Blogs
These blogs consistently provide practical insights and thoughtful perspectives on the profession:
- —idratherbewriting.com
This is one of the most comprehensive technical writing blogs available. It covers API documentation, documentation strategy, tooling, and career development. - —Everything Technical Writing
As the name suggests, this blog explores a wide range of topics, including self-editing, portfolio building, and breaking into the field. - —ffeathers.co.uk by Sarah Maddox
Sarah Maddox, a former Google technical writer, shares in-depth reflections on documentation practices and the evolution of the role.
Style Guides to Reference
Studying established style guides will improve your clarity, consistency, and overall writing discipline. Even if you do not adopt one completely, reviewing them will sharpen how you think about language.
- —Google Documentation Style Guide
- —Microsoft Writing Style Guide
- —Write the Docs Guide
Courses
If you prefer structured learning, the following courses are worth exploring:
- —idratherbewriting Learn API Documentation course
- —Technical Writing Mentorship Program (TWMP)
- —Google Technical Writing Course
- —Postman API Documentation Course
- —GitLab Technical Writing Fundamentals
There are many resources available, but consuming everything is not the goal. Focus on a few high-quality materials, practice consistently, and apply what you learn by building real documentation. That approach will take you further than endless research.