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Subject:WANTED: Career Advice From:Ron Rhodes <rrhodes -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 8 Jan 1998 21:03:13 -0500
Dear Techwhirlers,
I am a tech-writing consultant with five years experience and want to
move into editing. One day I hope to be an editor at a major publisher.
Currently, I don't have the skills or experience to land the job I want,
but am eager to start down the path. Aside from being a great text
editor, what other skills I should nurture? What should I do to
sharpen those skills?
Here are some ideas I came up with. I would appreciate your input.
1. Ask my current employer for more responsibility -- like managing a
large documentation project. (I may just want to assist on the first
couple of projects).
2. Adopt an editing process like the STC or JPL approach. Currently I
use the JPL (Jet Power Lab), but I am not religious about following the
guidelines.
3. Read challenging books and periodicals and try to find mistakes.
4. Put myself into a team writing environment. Currently, I am sort of
a maverick.
For those who ARE editors, should I run for my life, or do you truly
enjoy your work?
