TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Re: Making the Switch from Full Time to Freelance/Contract - Looking for Advice
Subject:Re: Making the Switch from Full Time to Freelance/Contract - Looking for Advice From:"Bob Doyle" <bobdoyle -at- skybuilders -dot- com> To:"Louise Kasemeier" <louisekasemeier -at- yahoo -dot- com> Date:Wed, 7 May 2008 11:45:51 -0400
Hi Louise,
We appreciated your sharing your DITA learning experience with others
at Lone_DITA.
We have considered listing professional consultants and experienced
freelancers on the DITA News website. It's hard to know who to
include, but one way to start is to see whether those on the major
list servs like TECHWR-L would want their contact information
publicized.
We also started a community-editable DITA Wiki. It has a section
called Professional Services. The wiki is based on the same MediaWiki
technology that runs Wikipedia.
That means anyone, including you, can simply make an entry there for
your services.
On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 2:33 PM, Louise Kasemeier
<louisekasemeier -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:
> I've finally decided to take the plunge and make the switch from full time writing posiitons to freelance or contract positions and I'm looking for any advice or wisdom from people who have already done it. I've been a full time technical writer for ten years, here in the Atlanta area and previously in th UK. I've worked in the software industry for most of that time writing user documentation and internal/systems stuff, API references etc. In the past 2 years or so I've also been doing a lot of work with DITA and XML, both as a content writer and on the technical implementation side of things.
>
> I'm really looking for advice on the best way to find contracts and to get my name out there. Should I use an agency or contact potential employers myself? Are there any good web sites or other resources out there that I should be looking at? Anything really that you think a newbie freelancer should be aware of.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Louise
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Be a better friend, newshound, and
> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
>http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as bobdoyle -at- skybuilders -dot- com -dot-
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/bobdoyle%40skybuilders.com
>
>
> To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
>http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.
>
>
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
