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Re: Current job market for contract tech writers

Subject: Re: Current job market for contract tech writers
From: Regina Lynn Preciado <reginapreciado -at- mindspring -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 20:20:52 -0700





Any other independents on this list? What is your experience?

I seem to be doing OK so far. I believe that two things keep me afloat through crummy markets like this:

1. Consistent, constant networking, in online and offline settings.

2. A hardcore mercenary outlook. I'll write anything for anybody as long as I get paid. That means I've done documentation, training, journalism (usually with a tech beat, but not always), ghostwriting chapters in books, editing, copyediting, web content, resume development, etc. I've even written features for a national wedding magazine. (That's sort of like tech writing...)

Neither of my current longer term gigs were posted - both came my way through my network. One took about two months between hearing about the possibility and signing a contract; the other took a little more than four months.

However, I have not experienced an increase in freelance opportunities because of staffers getting laid off. Not to say it's not happening, it just hasn't happened to me.

As I see it, I'm a writer who loves (lives? breathes?) technology, not necessary a Technical Writer. I'll go after non-techie writing gigs if they sound interesting and if I'm qualified. I also have two nonfiction book proposals in the works that I've been procrastinating. Not to get all California airy-fairy on list, but I think just keeping the words flowing makes a big difference....

g


regina lynn preciado
word wrangler * digital nomad
http://www.wwwritingonline.com
213.384.7286
what am i reading today?
http://www.wwwritingonline.com/blog.html




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Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: Current job market for tech writers: From: Jonathan Soukup
Re: Current job market for tech writers: From: Bruce Byfield
Re: Current job market for tech writers: From: Keith Carlson

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