.png)
Meet Annabel, Technical Author in Visual Effects Industry
- maryhartley19
- Nov 10
- 2 min read
Name: Annabel
Degree: Modern & Medieval Languages (French & Spanish) at University of Cambridge
How did you spend your Year Abroad?
Studied film at Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3
Briefly outline your journey from graduation to now.
After graduation I worked as a Production Assistant at an elearning company (editing, proofreading, building, and testing elearning modules). There I learnt how to use various authoring softwares such as Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate. I also took a coding course to learn HTML, CSS and Git.
I then moved into writing elearning modules at the same company, involving scriptwriting, project planning, and working with clients. After working as a Writer for a few years, I got a job at a game company as a Technical Game Writer - working on writing game user interface text, documentation, adding strings into the game engine, and helping manage the localisation pipeline and tools. This involved working with version control (Perforce), XML, Confluence, MemoQ, Unreal Engine, and I gained experience working in a software environment.
This then led me to become a Technical Author for software in the Visual Effects (VFX) industry. I now work writing user guides and updating documentation for each product release.
What is your current job?
Technical Author - Visual Effects (VFX) Software Industry
What does your current job involve day to day?
Gathering information about new software features, drafting documentation (user guide web pages), authoring pages on MadCap Flare using HTML, managing docs branches with Git version control, using software development builds, working with product managers to get feedback and review, supporting releases with creating release notes and resources.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The VFX industry is great - lots of creative people interested in film and TV. It's cool that the documentation that we produce helps artists make awesome effects.
What advice would you give to someone interested in this job?
If you're interested in software, a beginner's coding course could be a good way to get started.
How has your languages degree been useful during your career so far?
Working in software is like working in another language! Coding languages, but also the day to day terminology and workflows. Learning languages also helped my attention to detail and writing skills in English.
Do you use or practise your languages outside of work?
I occasionally listen to podcasts!
Thanks very much to Annabel for sharing her journey!
Are you a modern languages graduate, like Annabel?
Click here to share YOUR story and help inspire others