RE: Can this career be saved?

[Kirsty Taylor <kirsty -dot- taylor -at- mincom -dot- com>]

Becca,

FrameMaker is still being used in many areas, but maybe not so prevalently as it was 10 or so years ago. You ask what's replacing Frame and Quark - it seems to me that DITA and XML-based tools are becoming more prevalent, and there has been a focus on content management and single sourcing for a number of years. There's also quite a few more HATs around the traps - Flare, Doc To Help, AuthorIT, and even RoboHelp (now owned and supported by Adobe, and I believe part of their Tech Comm Suite).

Hope this helps,
KT

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+kirsty -dot- taylor=mincom -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+kirsty -dot- taylor=mincom -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Becca
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 11:43 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com; Pro TechWriter
Subject: Re: Can this career be saved?



--- On Mon, 6/6/11, Pro TechWriter <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

> I have only needed Framemaker skills twice in the last 12
> years or so. And
> not much before that. However, RoboHelp and MadCap
> Flare have been very
> important, and I learned XMetal with DITA on my last job.


Hm.  I saw DITA required on one of the job sites, but I don't know what it is.

If FrameMaker and Quark are going out, what is coming in to replace them?

I'd love to learn RoboHelp - I used it long ago, and liked it - but my school doesn't offer a class in it, so I'll have to get a copy for myself and play with it. I understand that RoboHelp isn't being supported anymore - is Flare what's replacing it?


> Contracting is also a good idea, if you feel you could work
> on some
> short-term assignments. That's a great opportunity to learn
> some new tools
> while you are working. All you need is someone to give you
> a shot at it.
>
> Best of luck!


Thanks - I think I'm going to need the help. SE Michigan isn't a hotspot for great jobs. Still, I was impressed with the number of jobs (more than two or three) I saw on Indeed.com.

I'd rather not get back into contracting if I can help it - I don't have the contacts anymore for gigs, and am not sure how to find them anymore. In that respect, I'm really starting from scratch.

I'm feeling a mixture of terror and excitement about getting back into writing. this is a good thing.

I can't thank you all enough - every one is being remarkably helpful and supportive.

-Becca


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