Ever since humans first put their thoughts down for others to read, they have had to work on perfecting the art of expressing themselves as accurately as possible; a feat only those with the strongest of wills have been able to achieve. Today DevChronicles has the priviledge of presenting Edidiong Asikpo, Didicodes, a Software Developer, and a human on the path of perfecting the art of technical writing.
Good morning Didi. Words cannot describe how honoured we are to be able to have this conversation with you. Can you please give us a brief history of your tech journey?
I initially wanted to study Medicine & Surgery at the University because my Dad wanted me to be a medical doctor. At that time, every parent wanted their children to either become a Medical Doctor, Lawyer or a Petroleum Engineer. Along the line, I remembered how I loved taking Computer Science classes in Secondary School, so I opted to study Computer Science at Renaissance University in Enugu State, Nigeria.
My university education was quite bland and typical, in the sense that the method of teaching was mostly theoretical, there was hardly any practical teaching involved. But, the turning point for me came in my 3rd year at the University when I secured a six-month out-of-school Industrial Training placement at a place called Start Innovation Hub at Uyo, Nigeria in 2017.
At Start Innovation Hub, I was opportune to learn how to develop mobile applications, majoring in Android Development. I was thrilled by the fact that I was able to learn how to build some features I saw and used on most mobile applications. It was so exciting to know that I could build applications and this excitement made me love Tech.
When I went back to school, everything became more clearer, I finally understood what my lecturers were trying to say and continued staying active in the developer community in Uyo. I didn’t get into tech because I studied computer science. I got into tech because I had the opportunity to learn how to code at Start Innovation Hub.
We have been following you for a while now, particularly your love for the art of technical writing and documentation. What would you say is your major source of inspiration?
A few years ago, I experienced difficulties in expressing myself in words and that affected me seriously so I decided to be intentional about learning how to write, then I stumbled upon a quote that said “You only learn how to write by writing” and it dawned on me that the only way I could learn how to write was to actually start writing something.
My source of inspiration is the obvious improvement in my writing skills, the ability to help someone understand certain concepts through my words, the money I make (PS: I made my first million through writing), and the possibilities of still improving.
Technical writers have the great benefit of becoming lifelong learners because they need to be well-versed in the field they are writing about in order to communicate the content clearly to readers. - This is why I write.
When you pick up a pen (you probably type, but the word pen has a poetic ring to it) to write on a subject matter, can you please tell us your thought flow or writing habits?
First, I think of the topic I want to write about. Then:
I follow Google’s style guide to help me stay on track and follow the best writing principles.
I ensure that every paragraph supports a single idea.
I believe simplicity is the ultimate sophistication so I love writing short. clear, and precise sentences.
After completing my first draft, I read through the content out loud while assuming I am one of the proposed readers. This helps me spot words that can be rephrased or removed.
Finally, I seek feedback by consulting with experts in the field I am writing about because no technical writer knows every technical detail.
Then I publish the article on my blog created with Hashnode.
Is there something in your daily routine that shapes the way you write?
Yes, reading articles from other authors.
Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river. - Lisa See
Reading is very essential because it helps me enrich my vocabulary and keeps me abreast of current trends, discover what's going on in the writing world, and also keep the spirit to write alive.
When would you say you are satisfied with a write up?
I read through my articles over and over again before publishing. When I do this, I put myself in the shoes of the reader and wonder if they will understand what I am trying to say. If it is super clear, then I am satisfied with it.
What thing in a given write up could annoy you the most, and what advice would you give?
Not focusing on the topic or point. I feel it wrong to name your topic A practical guide to understanding React and only talking about how to render elements in React. It is important to match the content of your write up to the topic.
What are the things are you most passionate about?
Making God proud of me, coding, writing, listening to music and helping people in any way I can.
Do you ever get stressed out? How do you deal with stress?
Yeah, just like every other person, I get stressed. Whenever I get stressed, I watch movies and eat different things all day until I feel better.
What project or writeup or documentation are you currently most proud of?
It has to be the VLC media player documentation. It was really exciting to work on this documentation because I have been using the product since I was in secondary school.
Say for some reason, you do not have access to your phone or laptop, and the corona pandemic was over for a week, how would you spend that day?
Ah, this is hard. For this to work, I would’ve to be chilling in a country I have never been to.
What is your view on developers and relationships, particularly romantic relationships? Is it any different from what we see from or amongst other professions? Does the nature, intensity and dedication required by the trade have any negative effects?
Well, I think it is the same thing. We are also humans, right? I don’t think the intensity and dedication required to excel in tech can have negative effects if you are with an understanding and supportive person. I think it is definitely better when you are in a romantic relationship with someone in tech. It makes everything less stressful and interesting because you won’t have to explain why you are always with your PC or why you are celebrating the fact that you made a contribution to open source, etc.
To me, everything falls down to the connection between yourself and your partner.
If it isn’t too much to ask, is there currently a special someone?
Hahaha. Yes, there is.
What's your definition of a romantic dinner?
I love well prepared meals and sceneries so a good meal and scenery with someone I love is the perfect definition of a romantic dinner for me.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Nah, I don’t. I really don’t understand how it is possible to see someone and love them automatically? However, I think it is possible to narrow down the chances of falling in love with someone in the future at first sight.
What's your take on true love?
To me, true love is not giving up on the person you claim you love no matter what.
What characteristics do you look for when choosing a partner?
I am a sucker for guys that are understanding, smart and supportive. These three things are important to me because it makes the relationship more interesting. I can’t stand someone who isn’t supportive because I know that I love excelling in whatever I delve into and I don’t want to be with someone that will be hating on my success. I like to think I am smart, so I find smart guys attractive. Honestly, I’ll prefer if he is smarter than I am because it will make me motivated to reach his level.
What's your idea of a perfect date?
A perfect date should ideally be stress free and relaxing. I love exploring new things so another characteristic of a perfect date is going to a place I have never been to before, a good meal and an amazing person by my side.
Do you think your career could ever put a strain on your relationships?
Yeah, I definitely think it can. There’s a higher chance of this happening when you are not with someone in tech because the person may not understand why you are always with your PC and sleeping late most times. I have been in both and I can it is definitely way better to be with someone that is in tech as well. Let’s write code together lol.
Can you give a word of encouragement to budding developers and technical writers?
Start and stay consistent. You only learn how to write by writing. You only how to code by coding. So just go ahead, start and stay consistent!
Thank you for your time. You have been an inspiration to young technical writers everywhere, and we hope to continue getting more from you. We wish you an awesome August ahead.
July has been amazing. We have had 4 great developers, all with a unique personality and style. But one thing they definitely have in common is the love for their craft. Next month, we have a surprise in store for you, so follow our handles to stay tuned for updates. To follow up on Edidiong, the link to her website is made available below.