Build a documentation process

An industrial approach to technical writing, in the order the work actually happens: define the project, gather information, test the product, write, validate, translate, and deliver.

Process overviewThe full production chain in one diagram, with the methodology track and the production-line track side by side.

Project definitionScope the documentation project before writing a single word.

Gathering informationWhere accurate content actually comes from, and how to get it out of subject-matter experts.

Testing products to document themWhy hands-on testing catches what interviews and specs miss.

Content creationTurning gathered information into structured, usable content.

Validation and quality controlReview passes that catch errors before publication, not after.

TranslationPlanning for translation instead of bolting it on afterward.

DeliveryGetting finished documentation to the people who need it, in the format they need it in.

From copywriting to technical communicationHow the discipline differs from marketing and general copywriting, and why that distinction matters for process design.

Need the tooling and version-control side of this process? See adopting docs-as-code. Looking for a ready-to-run checklist for one of these stages? See the toolkit.