Be a Follower to Get Ahead: Todd Breeding
(BS in Professional Writing, 1997)

This story was written for a student audience.

By Joy Hummer

Consider the Options

Are you considering a career as a professional writer? Professional writers can enjoy a wide range of career opportunities. Though there are many options available, according to the University of Houston-Downtown some potential career choices are journalism, management, manufacturing, medical writing, publishing, and technical writing.

Learn how one high-level professional used his degree to complement existing talents and skills to realize the career of a lifetime. I will share some of his valuable insight and tips for success to help as you consider the options of this exciting career.

The Road to Success

Todd Breeding is a 1997 graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing. Prior to obtaining his degree, Breeding served in the U.S. military and gained valuable knowledge and skills for creating technical documents. Following graduation, Breeding went to work with Texas Instruments in Houston, Texas as a technical writer. He is now the Technical Publications Manager for a team of 22 technical writers.

As technical writers, Breeding and his team create and manage technical product documentation, white papers, online help and user's guides such as those at www.TI.com. The team publishes 1,000 documents a year and maintains over 100,000 pages. According to Breeding, “Considerable effort and skill go into every project; good collaboration and input from the entire team makes the project successful.” As you can see, professional writers do more than just write. They engage in effective, collaborative efforts in a team with other skilled professionals, and together they play a key role in the success of their organization.

To gain the necessary experience and skill, Breeding suggests, “It is vital to have real projects to work on while in school.” After graduation, “Quickly get into an industry and stay there. Formal education and life experience complement each other. While credentials are necessary to get the opportunity, rely on what you learned to make the opportunity successful.”

Be a Follower to Enable Your Own Success

A professional writer uses a combination of skills, creativity, knowledge and collaborative teamwork to produce technically accurate and concise documents or products. As a result, the professional writer serves as a highly valued member of any organization. If you model the success of a professional writer such as Todd Breeding, you will enable your own success in the exciting and rewarding career of a professional writer.