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.
>software is very complicated and requires a lot of research in
>understanding tax and HR laws. Between the studying, the writing, and the
>reading of new technology, I sometimes find myself missing out on those
>walks on the beach, and the sunsets at night, and foremost the rain dancing
>off the streets. Does anyone else fall in this category at times. I am just
>curious if people in my field feel the same as I do.
Having shifted from a full-time employee to a contract-based person, here's
my answer:
As an employee, I read about the technology, I read about the appropriate
business techniques, I read about online help and technical writing in
general, I read some real page benders (those books that have creases on
every page from where your head smacked into them as you fell into a stupor
while reading). Late nights, early mornings and so on and so forth.
Then I became a contractor, now I work 4 hours a day drumming up business
and staying in touch with potential clients, followed by 8 hours of contract
work, and I still read a lot of technical writing, business management,
database management, online help, and so on.
Why just last weekend, I went on strike, picked up an Elizabeth George
mystery, weeded the garden, lay on the floor for several hours to play with
the cats, did my laundry (wheeee-ooo), and lived a bit.
WandaJane
!* Write Livelihood - Documentation that solves problems *!\
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