I spend a lot of time writing. I do it because it helps me to understand, and remember, the things I come across. I find that if I'm committed to writing an article or blog on a particular subject, then it makes the whole learning process more fun; and the information sticks in the brain.

If you want to write about technical subjects, and your boss is a bit doubtful whether the time is well-spent, just tell her, or him, that it is a wonderful way of developing your skills in a painless and rewarding way.

The other real excitement about writing technical stuff is that it is extraordinarily difficult to do well. It is the thrill of mastering a skilled craft. Not only has the technical detail got to be right, but it has got to be concise and interesting. There is no point in doing it if people aren't going to want to read it. It takes time and energy to get it right; but not a gift or a talent. It is a skill just like being a really good DBA or developer.

The most important ingredient in good writing is enthusiasm. It can't be faked. A good article exudes the authors' interest and excitement. That is the secret ingredient. Style, spellings, grammar and language can be fixed but, if the author is bored by his subject, nothing will rescue the results. This is why it is so important to write, just so long as you have a genuine interest, insight or idea.