Re: Another spin-off: where to find writing jobs that are NOT IT related?

[Mitchell Maltenfort <mmalten -at- gmail -dot- com>]

> Enginering... Long story short, I realized I'm not happy as a
> researcher among researchers.  I like research, I think there are some
> cool projects going on in my field, but among other things I'd rather
> write for the bright generalist or layperson than for the specialist.>>
> 
> I can dig it. I bailed on a research career and took up the life of the
> technical editor and translator. Haven't regretted it for a second.

Didn't realize until a little while ago you were the same Geoff Hart
who ran the Scientific Communication SIG for STC.  Is that SIG still
going?


> 
> <<I have background to offer and I don't want to throw it away.>>
> 
> In your case, there are many obvious places to look for work: Any
> company that produces medical hardware, from human orthotics and
> prosthetics to MRI machines, needs documentation, whether for end-users
> or internal clients (developers, marketers, tech. support, etc.). Any
> university doing research in your area may need writers and editors,
> particularly if they regularly produce grant proposals to obtain
> research funding. And so on... those are just the obvious ones.
>
Those are the sorts of thing I was looking for, although my experience
in the research arena is that grant proposals ar enormally done in
house.
 
> Have you thought about writing popular science for the usual suspects
> (Scientific American, Discover, Popular Science, etc.)? For newspapers
> and other magazines? Special-interest magazines for people with unique
> needs related to your field (e.g., articles on prosthetics and
> supportive devices for seniors)? There's good money to be made here
> too, particularly if you still enjoy your field enough to keep up with
> the latest research.

I've been reviewing the 'how to pitch' articles at MediaBistro.com. 
On my 'to-do' list for today is a pitch to AARP.

> 
> Here's the biggie: Find potential employers, and make your pitch based
> on solving _their problems_. I got a ton of journal editing work by
> saying something really simple: "You get a lot of great science from
> ESL authors, but you can't read their English to decide whether the
> science is any good. You have no budget to hire an editor, and your
> in-house copyeditors are swamped. Give these authors my brochure, with
> no endorsement on your part, and I'll guarantee (at no expense to
> you... the author pays the whole shot) a manuscript so well written
> you'll only have to pay attention to the science."

"Create a brochure" was just added to my to-do list for today.  

Thanks!

Mitch

-- 
I can answer any question.
"I don't know" is an answer.
"I don't know yet" is a better answer.

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