Geopolitical tensions between the US and China spilled into the semiconductor sector in 2022,  as the administration of US President Biden in December issued new export controls that block US companies from selling advanced semiconductors—as well as equipment used to make them—to certain Chinese manufacturers, and then in December expanded those restrictions. Industry insiders said that the restrictions were a signal that the era of ever-increasing globalization is over, and lamented that the restrictions would wreak havoc on the supply chain for all sorts of products—from computers to electronic vehicles— built on chip technology, catching enterprises of all sorts in the cross-fire between the two global superpowers.

How do you create a technical piece that people want to read? 1. Identify Your Audience Knowing your audience is super important, especially when writing technical content. For example, the new dad learning to build his first crib may have a different level of medical knowledge (and sheer focus) than the experienced doctor reading a medical research paper. When you have a clear idea of who you expect to read your piece, you can adjust your vocabulary, tone, and framing accordingly. This allows you to meet your reader at their point of knowledge. 2. Dig Deep in Your Research As a technical writer, you’ll be guiding your reader through entirely unfamiliar territory. You might be explaining how a new electronic tool works, what to expect from their new workplace, or what happened before their firm took on a new legal case. It is essential that you fully understand your subject matter. You can only teach what you know, and knowledge gaps show when you aren’t thorough in your research. Place yourself in your readers’ shoes. Imagine you had zero knowledge of the topic at hand and ensure your research covers all potential questions that come to mind.‍ 3. Create an Outline We recommend creating an outline to give you a sense of what you need to cover in your piece. This can also help identify knowledge gaps as you conduct your research. When you’re writing longer-form content like white papers or case studies, an outline can serve as a marker to remind you of what you need to include. In lieu of an outline, you can use a template. Some technical writing, such as business plans, have industry-accepted formats, including sections like an executive summary and competitor analysis. 4. Focus on Readability Technical writing is not creative writing—you're writing to teach, not inspire or entertain. When tackling complicated topics, using readable sentences can make your work more enjoyable to read. On the other hand, if you’re verbose or use words that are hard to understand, you