The Role of Motivation and Qualities of a Best Technical Writer
As a technical writer how do I get motivated? What are the ten best qualities of the world’s best technical writer? I was attending an interview (2nd round) for a Fortune 500 company and was taken off-guard, when the interviewer shot these unexpected questions at me—at that time an amateur technical writer yearning a much awaited break-through.

The going had been tough. I was kept waiting for more than three hours before being called in for thorough a rapid-fire questioning. Above that, I was rushed to answer fast; as the interviewer kept reminding me that he had more interviews on his call—which meant more competitors in line!
Like a pre-heated oven I was all tensed-up; owing to the two-hour long unscheduled wait. Worse ever, I was asked the toughest questions. Apart from that, I am not given sufficient time to think and answer. Imagining myself to be under the threat of a looming conspiracy, I just found myself mumble something to the interviewer, which obviously resulted a negative outcome at the end. I really do not blame anyone expect me for the laxity. I expected more of a technical sort of interview, and prepared more in that lines, completely ignoring the kind of questions I had faced.

Even now, when I go back and try to answer those questions, I realize how extremely important they are, not just to me, but to anyone in any profession. How do we get motivated? Do we possess the best qualities required of the profession?
How a Technical Writer is Motivated 

Read-Write-Get Read
I believe that every writer is a voracious reader. Technical writers are no exception—I mean that they should be. Terrific amount of knowledge is just a click away! Internet has brought a whole gamut of subjects of relevance close to the aspiring Technical Writers; they can now learn the finer nuances from other fellow technical writers, get expert opinions and answers to their queries or even be guided online at difficult times.

I personally am overwhelmed by the extent of motivation I get; reading about fellow technical writers; their experiences in making them famous; their debates on professional ethics and updates all over the internet. I further get motivated on getting myself heard over the net; I let my thoughts flow through blogs and networked sites to get them slaughtered by criticism if deserved. I get motivated by positive comments. I get equally motivated to receive criticism and learn from mistakes.
I read extensively; try to write in equal fervor; and also try to get read with enough fever—just to get motivated.
Best Qualities of a Technical Writer

Any amateur to the world of technical writing is sure to refer such qualities like excellent written and oral communication skills or good analytical ability as top qualities of a technical writer. Those are the basic requirements I can say. But I personally have come to realize that the following characteristics go a long way in the making of the world’s best technical writer.
Ability to Decompose Technical Details into Simple Concepts

Though a technical writer is required to deal with a lot of technical information; not every reader or audience is able to understand such complexity when represented in raw form. The best technical writer is the one who can breakdown even complex information into very well articulated steps or concepts for a reader to grasp and remember. That is most important.
Adaptation of Superior Document Design

A document is not just a collection of different chapters or sections. It represents various modules, parts, concepts and analytical segments that are interrelated with one another; yet interspersed at different places across the document to avoid confusion reading it. The brilliance of a technical writer manifests in designing a comprehensive document that can be correlated and easily understood by a reader or even a layperson.
Cemented Consistency 

Consistency is one of the crucial traits every technical writer is required to maintain, but very difficult at that. A document not necessarily is confined always to a couple of pages. It can run into hundreds and thousands of pages or multiple volumes. Many a time concepts of the same kind have to be referred at many places in the entire document(s). No single concept or a unit of information can be referred in a different form unless specified, lest the reader is bound to get confused. A good technical writer represents consistency like cement; that binds readers’ taut attention without distraction.
Ability to Plan One's Workload

Technical writers are always working under pressure. When all the work for others comes to an end; it actually begins for the technical writers! A competent Technical writer should therefore plan ahead of the others—their managers, peers and fellow workers; anticipate deadlines and be prepared for them.

Recognize Tasks and Assign Proper Priority

There shall be lot many things technical writers are supposed to do. They are required to prioritize their works on need basis to see that nothing comes between clearing deadlines.
Look and Feel

Every document that a technical writer prepares shall invariably be approved by the client or the customer. All the rules of usability shall therefore be taken care of by the technical writer to sustain an amicable, flourishing and everlasting relationship with the client or customer.
Expert in the Field 

Every technical writer is expected to gain mastery and control on the tools of documentation. Technical writers shall use illustrations, formatting, styles and preferences brilliantly to make the document appear prominent and different. Profuse use of tools with expert maneuvering is needed in creation of resourceful masterpiece.
I have put some points that crossed my mind, may be in haste. I welcome valuable thoughts from others to complete the discussion.