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Luck and good timing are great, but not necessarily highly reliable.
I'd say it's still the bottom line of taking the tools and experience
and hustle you've got to the table (we've had good suggestions today as
to how) and then showing the person who's hiring a writer that you can
do the job they want done, the way they want it done, profitably, and
with an understanding of what their needs are. Anything else might
arguably be useful, but not essential -- at least not from an employer's
point of view. Then, once you're in a job, learn all you can, deliver
all you can, improve all you can -- whatever forms that may take.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Vincent Marianiello
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 4:16 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Internships (was: Breaking into the tech writing job
market)
There seems to be this idea that technical writing is completely
different from others modes of composition. But, in fact, technical
writing uses a special style. It is, after all, based on common English
usage. One who takes a course in technical writing learns how to style
prose and documents the way a technical writer would. It's not akin to
learning another language, as some of you are suggesting. All writing is
the same, whether it be fiction, poetry, or technical prose. The
difference is on style and presentation, which, of course, depends on
your audience and rhetorical situation. Technical writing tends be more
concise, full of concepts and lacking muddy prepositional phrases. A
skilled writer can write on any subject (given they do the research) and
in any style (given they have the
skill.)
So the question about my "experience" seems (to me) to be a bit
irrelevant.
Obviously I'm not an engineer or scientist (if I were I wouldn't be
looking for a job writing). My experience is in writing.
But if you must know: I have done some web production, taught
composition and specialized in teaching with technology, had editorial
positions for print anthologies and was a chef for 13 years. I've also
been a musician since I was seven years old (that's thirty years) but I
don't consider myself an expert in any of that. What I am an expert in
is writing. Which, in my mind, would qualify me for an entry level tech
writing job. But some of you are saying "No," that's not how it works.
>From the majority of the responses (which I have greatly enjoyed, by the
way; I might use this for my PhD dissertation) it seems to be either
luck or good timing that lands someone that first tech writing job.
Which is interesting, in itself.
I must apologize for opening several cans of worms with this topic, it
was not my intention. But this is excellent reading and in interesting
topic.
Maybe a novel...
V.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+vincent -dot- marianiello=gmail -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+vincent -dot- marianiello=gmail -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- co
m]
On Behalf Of Bonnie Granat
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 2:07 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Internships (was: Breaking into the tech writing job
market)
True, and in the absense of that information at the time I wrote that
post you now refer to, I drew a conclusion.
However, in my initial post to him this morning, I asked him
specifically about it because I had not seen that anyone had yet asked
the question, which I think is fundamental.
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+bgranat=granatedit -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
> .com] On Behalf Of Gene Kim-Eng
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 3:47 PM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: Internships (was: Breaking into the tech writing job
> market)
>
> I don't think we know that about Vince from his post. He tells us he
> has a master's degree in English but no technical or scientific degree
> and no OTJ experience as a tech writer, but he doesn't mention whether
> he's had any tech writing courses or training.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>
>
> > Perhaps I should have clarified that I was referring
> specifically to
> > someone
> > who has not only no experience but no coursework or
> training in technical
> > writing, which was what I understood was Vince's circumstance.
>
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