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Technical writing
Technical writing means creating clear, useful content about technical products, services or processes, such as user guides, API documentation and reports. This beginner module focuses on building practical samples and learning how to work with subject matter experts.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Technical writers explain how products and processes work.
- Choose one reader and one task.
- Write a short guide in clear steps.
- Ask someone to try it, then improve it.
- Save safe samples to show potential clients.
Who it suits
It may suit you if you enjoy explaining how things work, checking details and making complex information easier for a particular audience to use. You do not need to be a technical writer to learn from the GOV.UK technical writing community, although its community is for people working in the public sector or interested in this work.
People and organisations pay for writing that helps readers use products, services or processes correctly. Clear instructions can save time, reduce confusion and help people complete tasks.
Step by step
- Choose a subject, reader and task. Pick a subject you understand, such as setting up an app or following a familiar process. Write down who the guide is for and what that reader needs to do. About 20-30 minutes.
- Study examples of technical writing. Read a few guides and note what makes each one easy or difficult to use. The GOV.UK style guide covers technical terms, code and instructions GOV.UK. About 30-60 minutes.
- Draft a short how-to guide. Use a fictional product or a process you know well. Put the reader’s task first, use plain language, and make each step describe one action. About 1-2 hours.
- Ask a reader to test your guide. Choose someone similar to your intended reader and ask them to follow the guide without your help. Note where they pause, ask questions or misunderstand, then revise those parts. About 30-60 minutes, plus any revision.
- Create a second writing sample. Try a troubleshooting note, short report or glossary. A fault report can briefly say where and when a fault happened and how it was fixed Emphasis. About 1-2 hours.
- Practise checking source information. Gather notes and mark what is confirmed, unclear or conflicting. Ask a subject matter expert to confirm details; technical writers may do this as part of their work Fiona Hurley on LinkedIn. About 1-2 hours.
- Learn shared editing and version control. Practise making a small edit, saving a version and recording what changed. The GOV.UK community lists Git and GitHub learning resources and examples of writers using GitHub GOV.UK Service Manual. About 1-3 hours.
- Prepare a small, safe portfolio. Include your samples, who each is for and what task it helps with. Add a short note about what you changed after feedback, and remove confidential or private material. About 1-2 hours.
- Apply for suitable work and agree terms. Look for entry-level, contract or freelance opportunities and tailor each application to the subject and reader. Before starting, agree the deliverables, review process, deadline and payment terms in writing. About 1-2 hours per application.
Your first 15 minutes
Write a one-page guide for a fictional product, ask someone unfamiliar with it to follow the instructions, and revise the guide using their feedback.
The money
Price by the agreed task and scope, taking account of research, drafting, revisions and meetings. Set out what is included, the deadline and payment terms before work begins; do not assume that a sample or first project will lead to paid work.
Example only: UK week: £120 income from two agreed pieces − £10 costs = £110 before tax. Ireland week: €160 income from two agreed pieces − €12 costs = €148 before tax. These are illustrative amounts, not typical rates or an exchange-rate comparison.
The rules
There's no specific writing licence for this work. Tax and data-protection rules can still apply. Check your situation with HMRC or Revenue, and check with the relevant data-protection body if you handle personal information.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Trading income and tax. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the trading allowance. This is your gross income before expenses. If your income is over £1,000, tell HMRC and check whether you need to register for Self Assessment GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles.
- Self Assessment deadline. If you need to register for Self Assessment, you must do so by 5 October after the end of the tax year GOV.UK.
- Personal data and ICO fee. The ICO's finance-and-insurance guidance gives consultancy or advisory services to individuals and partnerships as examples of work where a fee is required. If you provide these services, check whether you need to pay the fee. The ICO's sector guidance also points organisations to its self-assessment tool. Taking card payments or advertising only your own services does not, on its own, mean you need to pay a fee ICO ICO.
- Client terms. Agree in writing what work you will do, how many review rounds are included, the deadline and the payment terms. This helps both sides know what to expect.
- Advertising. If you publish paid or affiliate promotions, label them clearly, for example “Ad” ASA.
- Insurance. Think about whether professional indemnity or other insurance suits your work. No particular policy is stated as required.
- Young workers. In Northern Ireland, if you are a worker aged 16–17, you usually must not work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, or work between 10pm and 6am. Check how the rules apply to you nidirect. If you are under 18 elsewhere in the UK, check the rules for your area.
Ireland
- PAYE income and tax returns. If you work under PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those thresholds, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount OpenAccountants.
- Self-employed tax. If you're self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC under self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October Citizens Information. Check your situation with Revenue or a tax adviser.
- Business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register that business name with the CRO. Online registration costs €20 CRO.
- Personal data. No Irish data-protection registration or fee rules are specified. If you handle personal information, check with the Data Protection Commission. Don't assume UK ICO rules apply.
- Client terms. Agree in writing what work you will do, how many review rounds are included, the deadline and the payment terms. This helps both sides know what to expect.
- Advertising. If you publish commercial or paid promotional content, label it clearly, for example “Ad”. The guidance says, “if in doubt, label it” CCPC.
- Age and insurance. If you are under 18, check work rules with Citizens Information Citizens Information. Think about whether insurance suits your work. No particular policy is stated as required.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Writing for yourself instead of the reader who needs to use the guide.
- Guessing when source information is unclear or conflicts.
- Making steps too long or combining several actions in one step.
- Starting without agreeing the scope, deadline, review rounds and payment terms.
- Sharing confidential or unauthorised material in a portfolio.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.