Aloha!
One of the perks of being a technical writer is the hypothetical possibility of working remotely. Freelance technical writers are not bound by anything and can create content from any place on Earth.
You can work and travel at the same time, how awesome is that?
Summer is in its zenith and help authoring under palm trees can become your reality. In this case, you need to have a list of devices to take with you. Here are some tools that can prove useful in your venture.
Laptop
Let’s start off with the basics here. Technical progress is doing everything it can to make laptops lighter and easier to carry. Ultrabooks, convertible laptops…a lot of options.
Not everybody needs a laptop though. Some tech writers find a tablet or a smartphone sufficient to get the job done.
Noise-canceling headphones
Technical writers require peace and quiet. Concentration is important for help authoring and not every beach is as peaceful as traveling brochures depict. While you can’t protect yourself from children throwing pieces of their sand castle your way or from a beach ball gently landing on your laptop…you can try partly blocking out the reality with noise canceling headphones.
All-in-one Adapter
Forget about your pile of adapters! Any international trip becomes a bit easier with an all-in-one adapter. If you already tried getting one a while ago and found out that it was poorly made, missing outlet options and didn’t seem to be worth it – try again. Looks like this device finally had its quantum leap moment.
GPS tracker
This is an extremely useful device especially for those traveling by plane. Just put it inside your luggage and you will be able to find it quickly on a baggage carousel among other suitcases that are all going to look exactly like yours somehow.
Power bank/Portable wi-fi hotspot
A power bank can guarantee that you won’t have to constantly worry about your battery running low. For some devices being a power bank is only a side hustle, like, for example, portable wi-fi hotspots can be chargers as well.
Technical writing software like ClickHelp is a cloud-based solution, so to access your work environment you need only an Internet connection and a charged device to type text on. A portable wi-fi hotspot with a charger feature is the perfect option.
Travel mug
Travel mugs can keep your drink either cold or warm, depending on what you pour inside.
There are mugs that come with a lifetime warranty which sounds really promising. Another solution for a thirsty traveler is a flask. These can even have a built-in light.
External SSD
Working remotely is all about backups. But you might not always have an Internet connection, so bring a portable SSD with you!
Solar-powered light
Who knows where your technical writing adventure is going to take you. A solar-powered light can be a lifesaver quite literally! Some modern lights need to be charged for 6-7 hours in the sun and the LED light is going to shine bright for you for up to 16 hours.
Kindle
Use Kindle for both work and fun. You need to relax too, remember? This is a perfect device for book readers for sure. Even the brightest sun won’t ruin your reading experience.
Common sense
Ah! Our favorite tool for technical writing ! It is strongly recommended that you take common sense with wherever you go. If you ask politely, your common sense will instruct you on what other devices you need to take, and you can plan out the whole trip thing together.
Conclusion
Lying in a hammock on a tropical resort seems like an inspiring place to write help topics. But you really need to think through a lot of things for such a journey to be successful.
The devices we have mentioned can easily fit into your backpack and they can serve you well in your freelance travels.
Good luck with your technical writing!
ClickHelp Team
Author, host and deliver documentation across platforms and devices
