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Subject:Somewhat OT: Tech Writers vs. other writers From:"Paul Strasser" <paul -dot- strasser -at- windsor-tech -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 15 May 2003 08:48:03 -0600
Over the weekend I was talking with some people and a standard question came
up: "So, what do you do?"
I answered, "Writer. Technical writer." (Say it like Sean Connery said,
"Bond. James Bond." Sounds good that way.)
After some comments about what TWs do - and I can make it sound like we do
really, really cool stuff - I said something off-hand that I thought was
accurate, but wasn't quite sure. The more I think about it, the more
certain I am that it is indeed accurate.
Basically, what I said was: If you want to write and make a decent wage
doing it, your best chance is as a tech writer, as opposed to any other type
of writing. A greater percentage of tech writers make a nice salary than of
any other kind of writer (poets, fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, etc.)
Yeah, the occasional screenplay writer makes some seriously big bucks, but
the vast majority don't do it for a living or they'd starve.
Putting aside whether simply wanting to write or thinking you're a good
writer is enough to be a TW, is my statement correct? Of all categories of
writers, do you think there is a larger percentage of TWs who are earning
decent money (okay - define "decent.") The only other category that might
come close is journalist, IMO.
Musings on a Thursday.
Paul Strasser
Windsor Technologies, Inc.
2569 Park Lane, Suite 200
Lafayette, Colorado 80026
Phone: 303-926-1982
FAX: 303-926-1510
E-mail: paul -dot- strasser -at- windsor-tech -dot- com
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