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I've not been on the list long, but I must say I'm intrigued by some
of its intensity. I subscribe to a number of other lists, as I guess
many of you do, and this one certainly has its own flavor; this forum
seems to have become a meta-forum lately, fueled by Eric Ray's post.
I have to say that Eric's suggestions are what my expectations are of
this list, for the most part, but I'll earn a little more lurk-time
before offering any arguments one way or another.
On to a query, if you'll indulge a newbie:
I work full-time developing computer reference books but would like to
pick up some freelance writing work. I've been browsing some of the
contract and other tech/doc writing jobs on the Web in various spots
to this end, and have submitted a dozen or so queries in response, and
maybe another dozen cold.
Almost all of these job solicitations/posts ask for a substantive
amount of technical background--closer to what I'd call an engineer's
or programmer's knowledge than a writer's.
Yet, the posts on this list are generally of a non-technical nature:
the emphasis appears to be on english syntax (dare I say grammar),
style, clarity, organization (& problem-solving & philosophical
threads of course) as opposed to a pure content or development
discussion.
To a point this is rational, since the list doesn't revolve around a
specific OS or application (e.g., a Java or HTML or VRML discussion),
other than perhaps common trade tools like HTML or WinHelp or WPs.
Hence, what's the scoop? Are you engineers-turned-writers or
writers with a technical bent/experience/talent-for-learning-a-new
-piece-of-software-on-a-familiar-platform-in-no-time-at-all (has to be
a word for this somewhere :)?
Thanks for any responses in advance.
(On a related note to some of the discussion I've seen on
telecommuting: I've gotten quick responses so far from almost all of
my queries, and none of them are interested in telecommuting.
Everyone I've received a reply from wants a resume/samples for a
full-time position/relocation)
