Writing Tips as a Developer
Tags: writing, books, career, devrel
Published: 2020-07-26 13:03:09

The original post was on [Writing Tips as a Developer - Reading Time: 4 Mins](https://www.maxongzb.com/writing-tips-as-a-developer-reading-time-4-mins/) and cover image by [Hannah Grace on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/writing)

# Introduction
![undraw working from anywhere ub67][1]

When it comes to writing, the first thought that comes to my mind is writing for a research paper to document your research findings. It comes in the form of stories that are captivating its audience through it's world-building. It could even be a technical article. Like the analysis of trends for technology or documentations like DigitalOcean or Twilio.

To me, writing serves as **articulating** one's thoughts and **documenting** your process to get your ideas across written down as a developer, a thinking individual and a human with their own voice. I hope these writing tips are useful for you to allow you to become better at conveying your thoughts and desires as an individual with your own unique voice.

# Learn to Write Well
![undraw font kwpk][2]

As a developer, seek to do **two** things when it comes to writing. Firstly, convey your point across **simple** and **clearly** as possible. Which anyone instantly could understand what you are talking about. Without tons of jargons, technical terms or obscure words that are only relevant to a small number of people. 

I will say [KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)][3] when you are writing your documentation or anything technical in nature. Your readers will thank you for it. Secondly, write it in your **own voice** like your talking to a friend that does not turn anyone off. This is why adopting tools like [Grammarly][4] and studying books like [On Writing Well][5] helps alot in changing your own voice when you write.

# Write an Outline
![undraw contract uy56][6]

When your writing for a blog, especially when you are planning to write 3 articles a week. Which I had previously done, creating an outline helps to **organise** your thoughts. It allows you to do research on a specific topic or angle for your article. It won't eliminate your tendency of wandering off track when you write. It drastically reduces the pressure to publish on a tight schedule. Which for me was **Wednesday**, **Friday** & **Sunday** in my publishing schedule.

# Split Writing & Editing as a Different Process
![undraw spreadsheet 69ax][7]

As you write more, you will feel that writing is a demoralising process.  Adding on to the daunting process of writing. You need to have it edited, making it much harder. For anyone to actually publishes your article. So my suggestion for you is to have the same amount of time spent on **writing** and **editing**. 

For me, you could set aside about **1.5** hours for your writing of your first draft and editing to be **1.5** hours. **Do not** do it in 1 sitting. First, your first draft and then take a break of 30 mins and stretch before embarking on editing your first draft. Always seek to keep the amount of time spend to be the same for the **writing phase** and **editing phase**. Because you really need to have the same amount without sacrificing your quality of the article.

# Setup Your Routine
![undraw indoor bike pwa4][8]

The key to discipline is to set up environments and habits to allow you to work on something for your own personal health or any other things in your own life. So always seek to **block out time** to **dedicate** it to writing consistently with triggers that **remind** you to start and end your routine. 

For me, I usually have a Pomodoro timer that rings when I **start** a Pomodoro session and rings when it **ends**. While listening to music as I write my article. So seek to **change** your environment to be conducive to you to get into the mood of writing. 

# Devour of Ideas/Information
![undraw reading time gvg0][9]

I found that writing is a manner of **inspiration** & **documentation**. We get by feeding our minds. With knowledge, perspective, experiences, ideas on how we view our own world. 

**Documenting** your journey and process. While morphing from a caterpillar into a butterfly through the actions and decisions that you make. Therefore you **must** adopt the habit of **feeding** & **enriching** your mind. While **doing** work that provides fruitful experiences, perspectives or struggles in both the high or low. 

A **collector** of good **ideas** from a wide variety of sources. From documentaries, coffee chats with friends, books you read, podcasts, music, movies and even personal struggles that you encounter. It becomes a part of you. Instead of being a drone, **focused** on doing the technical work. Without the creativity to be yourself, instead of seeking to fit in.

# Conclusion
![undraw through the park lxnl][10]

Aright, so if you had the **patience** to get it till here. Give yourself a clap in the back. You might think why should I learn to write to improve on my craft as a developer. 

We are required to communicate in messages. In the various channel from social media to technical documents or slack. Which are used to convey our intentions and ideas across to solve a problem and be informed [asynchronously][11].

Besides in the eyes of your employer and a leader,  strong communicators is **prized**. Especially in a world, where remote work is the new norm as a developer. Because of benefits, it provides to the employee in more time and greater satisfaction.

Lastly, are you looking to **specialise** yourself as a developer? If it's a **YES**. I'm giving away my free ebook called ["Picking Your Specialisation as a Developer"](https://maxongzb.activehosted.com/f/5) for anyone who are interested to command a **higher salary** or do the work that you **like**.

If you like this article do **sign up** for my [Adventurer's Newsletter](https://maxongzb.activehosted.com/f/1) which contains interesting content I stumble across over the week in the area of **Python**, **Web Development**, **Startup** and articles that I wrote.

You can also **follow** me to get the **latest** update of my article on **Dev**

This post includes affiliate links, I may receive compensation if you purchase products or services from the different links provided in this article.


# Reference
* [On Writing Well][5]
* [KISS Principle][3]
* [Grammarly][4]
* [Jim Collins][12]
* [Remote Work: Get a Job or Make a Career Working From Home][11]
* [UnDraw][13]


[1]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/1iDsboNj7j5Q0cRuV3Dpld/64d4ef20df89d8f4fc3a8df0ac8d96bc/undraw_working_from_anywhere_ub67.png
[2]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/2ZC5sqFgeZCGRgz6og9eI3/ad0770d1c39a11c129840d52226d5ba5/undraw_font_kwpk.png
[3]: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/20262/keep-it-simple-stupid-principle-kiss-principle
[4]: https://grammarly.go2cloud.org/SH2Ix
[5]: https://amzn.to/2EmqidJ
[6]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/2sSXFEuskuEw5iya8ttjko/05c01348a5670717ac6ebec92ff75f41/undraw_contract_uy56.png
[7]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/78jLtfmAIpaUmH0bapk70m/033bbd76cce6c07747f44514fd2726a1/undraw_spreadsheet_69ax.png
[8]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/6754rJq90G19a7JYAjpfbw/27b8f03cf79726484abd833bf78ce508/undraw_indoor_bike_pwa4.png
[9]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/4KjiB7rjaqKBULeDgGsvh4/d3f348220b48a33f8549e1b0b65e6f53/undraw_reading_time_gvg0.png
[10]: //images.ctfassets.net/ly2f59p4unnn/4qpm3B0jYBukkCkdsSFSOY/a61c864b1849669731c7c2418c34ae47/undraw_through_the_park_lxnl.png
[11]: https://amzn.to/3hwqYvg
[12]: https://tim.blog/2019/02/18/jim-collins/
[13]: https://undraw.co/illustrations