http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Careers/Freelance A listing of the most recently indexed works about Careers and Freelance in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Careers/Freelance http://tc.eserver.org/35492.html http://tc.eserver.org/35492.html Is it really true that a freelancer shouldn’t bother with a business plan? There are thousands of freelancers, after all, who started taking on clients without even thinking about writing a business plan. Nobody seems to have suffered from that approach. However, there are a few steps along the way that are significantly easier when you have a business plan in hand. http://tc.eserver.org/35453.html http://tc.eserver.org/35453.html Drafting a contract that covers you, and doesn’t just enumerate information, is more than important: it is a must. Freelancers do not have the benefit of a legal department dedicated to protecting their interests with a watertight contract. Nevertheless, a freelancer’s contract must be comprehensive, concise and clear. It should outline the scope of the job, scheduling demands, the expectations of both parties and more. http://tc.eserver.org/35415.html http://tc.eserver.org/35415.html You are a high-tech/Bio-tech company and your first product is nearing release. The product requires documentation and you ask your self what are our options? Before deciding you should consider these factors. http://tc.eserver.org/35428.html http://tc.eserver.org/35428.html Some folks may find it impressive that you know the ins and out of UNIX and how your last open source coding project attracted media attention, but the majority do not. Especially when acronyms start spewing forth with articulated speed. Keep in mind that executives are employed to keep you employed and need to understand your ideas to communicate them to stakeholders and customers. One way to minimize 'tech' talk is to include the following words into each technical statement: We are using [technology/programming language] to enhance [a specific part] of our business. http://tc.eserver.org/35409.html http://tc.eserver.org/35409.html Observations about freelance technical writing in Israel. http://tc.eserver.org/35156.html http://tc.eserver.org/35156.html Many people are mistaken by what a freelancer actually is and how they use their time. There are many myths that clients think about freelancers, freelance work, or becoming a freelancer. I have made a short list of freelance myths, and what the reality of the myth actually is. http://tc.eserver.org/35157.html http://tc.eserver.org/35157.html Christmas and the holiday season are often the time of the year where people spend the most amount of money. So if your outgoings overtake your freelance in-comings, then you may need to take a look at re-branding your business for the holiday season. Here is WebdesignDev’s short guide on how freelancers can make a bit of extra money on the side during the holiday season when times are tough on the wallet. http://tc.eserver.org/34977.html http://tc.eserver.org/34977.html For the freelance writer on the go, there are some items that are essential for what they're doing. This post looks at the gear that one writer uses when working away from the home office. http://tc.eserver.org/34786.html http://tc.eserver.org/34786.html It’s not easy to estimate how long a copy writing job will take due to the many factors involved in the estimation. http://tc.eserver.org/34306.html http://tc.eserver.org/34306.html The immediate challenge for smaller web design companies is how to attract new business and keep old clients in a downturn economy. Customers are falling off of maintenance contracts and smaller businesses may not be looking to start a website right away. Enterprise level clients are becoming more price-conscious. What can we do to make sure our collective heads stay above water in this tough climate? http://tc.eserver.org/34311.html http://tc.eserver.org/34311.html Efficiency and organization are critical for freelance web designers. Managing finances and tracking down payments is not what drew most freelancers into this line of work. Fortunately, while handling finances is a necessary part of the business of freelancing, there are many tools and resources to that can help to simplify things. These tools can be critical to keeping your business running smoothly and efficiently. In this post we’ll look at 15 online tools and services that can offer freelancers some help in the area of finances and billing. Most of these tools are paid, but limited free plans or free trials are available in most cases. http://tc.eserver.org/34318.html http://tc.eserver.org/34318.html When you’re working with clients remotely it can sometimes be difficult to keep everyone happy and your project on track. Without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, it’s easy for a client to feel neglected or out of the loop. The key to successful remote work relationships is frequent and honest communication and trust between both parties. The tips below will help improve your everyday interactions with clients, no matter how far away they may be. http://tc.eserver.org/34319.html http://tc.eserver.org/34319.html Collaborating with clients you never meet face-to-face has become normal for most web workers. Ours is an industry where working remotely poses very few real obstacles — nearly every part of the web design process can be done from the comfort of a home office or coffee shop. We’re lucky to have this flexibility, especially in tough economic times when a swanky office doesn’t fit in the business budget. Even if you do have an office, chances are you will land a few clients who aren’t located around the block. But you quickly discover that working remotely has its downsides. Without face-to-face interaction it’s easy for major communication issues to develop… often without you knowing until it’s too late. Avoid a major meltdown with these simple tips. http://tc.eserver.org/34157.html http://tc.eserver.org/34157.html This article offers tips on breaking into the field of freelance writing—some from Alice Osborn herself, some from two of the books she recommends: "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" by Robert W. Bly; and "The Renegade Writer" by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell. http://tc.eserver.org/34092.html http://tc.eserver.org/34092.html A lot of cliches apply to freelancers — wearing many hats, fingers in many pies, juggling multiple tasks. In order to do everything that you need to do, you need the right tools. Aside from the usual suspects — productivity and publishing software, Web sites, and blogs — there are a number of essential tools that all freelancers should have at their disposal. http://tc.eserver.org/34066.html http://tc.eserver.org/34066.html Is taking on a side project or three actually worth the time and money? It depends. http://tc.eserver.org/33943.html http://tc.eserver.org/33943.html The worsening economy will adversely affect our industry, at least in the short term. However, our skills and products are suited to ride out hard economic times. Marketers can easily measure return on investment for electronic media. Likewise a web address—such as an online shop—provides a wider audience and lower overhead than a street address, and could therefore be a better investment. So how do you ensure your company isn’t a wallflower? Keeping your dance card full is about making a truly positive contribution. Here are seven steps to help get you into the rhythm. http://tc.eserver.org/33875.html http://tc.eserver.org/33875.html If we don’t learn, we wither. New trends, new tools and technologies, new techniques. Even just new skills for the job. Continuous education is a key to longevity in the world of technical communication. As a freelancer, though, getting educated can be a bit of a problem. While many full-time employees have access to at least some job-specific training paid for by their employers, freelancers must shoulder the costs themselves. And training isn’t always cheap. So, how do freelancers stay current and stay sharp? Here are a few suggestions. http://tc.eserver.org/33810.html http://tc.eserver.org/33810.html So, you’re seriously considering making the jump into the world of freelance technical writing. It’s a big step, and one there’s a lot more to it than just giving up your day job and hanging out a shingle. This post details a number of things that are important to consider before making the jump. http://tc.eserver.org/33811.html http://tc.eserver.org/33811.html The second part of a series on making the move to freelance technical writing. This installment discusses how to gigs and get paid. http://tc.eserver.org/33812.html http://tc.eserver.org/33812.html So, you’ve hung out your virtual shingle and even have a couple of contract gigs under your belt. You’ve decided that the freelance life is for you. Now what? Obviously, expand your business to gain more and varied clients. The way to do that is by marketing. http://tc.eserver.org/33546.html http://tc.eserver.org/33546.html Not every tale of striking out on your own and following your bliss ends happily. In our industry, plenty of event videographers who’ve enthusiastically "taken the plunge" and quit the 9-to-5 grind to become video entrepreneurs have found themselves back in the work force within a few years, after their businesses failed. Sometimes the problem is ability, other times it’s lack of business sense or strategy; just as often, especially in trying economic times, it’s simply that a given market won’t bear another videographer who is unable to distinguish him- or herself from the existing competition. http://tc.eserver.org/33521.html http://tc.eserver.org/33521.html It’s important to acknowledge the challenges of freelancing, though, so that you can manage them and learn to free yourself from the usual limitations. And that’s what we’re going to do in this article. http://tc.eserver.org/32132.html http://tc.eserver.org/32132.html For those of you who have decided to venture out on your own: congratulations. Now that the celebrations are over, it’s back to reality. Although you have crawled out from under the thumb of a boss, you’ve also given up that comfortable bi-weekly paycheck to become an independent contractor. Having taken this big step a few years ago, I offer a few words of advice on how to keep the clutches of the tax man from grabbing too much of your earnings. I’ll give it to you straight: no weasel words here. http://tc.eserver.org/32048.html http://tc.eserver.org/32048.html While the 9-5 world isn’t for everyone, neither is freelancing. There also comes a time for everyone when freelancing is no longer the viable and exciting option it once was. http://tc.eserver.org/32051.html http://tc.eserver.org/32051.html My fellow freelancers have been writing about international freelancing, where you cater to a global clientele. I can see the reasoning behind the interest though, especially if you live in a third-world country. http://tc.eserver.org/32049.html http://tc.eserver.org/32049.html Personally, the growing distress over the recession actually represents a lack of long-term thinking. Freelancing by default is less stable than the corporate world. http://tc.eserver.org/31965.html http://tc.eserver.org/31965.html Most contractors can't afford the time or money to advertise. If they can, there probably aren't many places where an ad would reach potential clients anyway. By default, then, your reputation as a contractor rests on your behavior at each job. Leave a happy client behind at the end of each job, and you'll soon start a word-of-mouth campaign that will keep you employed the rest of your working life. http://tc.eserver.org/31901.html http://tc.eserver.org/31901.html Beach time and bench time refer to paid or unpaid time off between consulting contracts. When you are a contractor, it is best to take initiative and find other options no matter how much you trust your recruiter. Never trust a company to have your best interests in mind. http://tc.eserver.org/31899.html http://tc.eserver.org/31899.html In the world of contracting, the entire hiring process can take place over the phone. Knowing the right tool (even a little) can get you the job. http://tc.eserver.org/31796.html http://tc.eserver.org/31796.html For some, going freelance seems like an all-or-nothing proposition: you either have to jump in with both feet or not try at all. This blog post argues another way: gradually transition to full-time freelancing. http://tc.eserver.org/31445.html http://tc.eserver.org/31445.html Many years ago I was asked to develop a marketing package for the environmental practice group of a large, Washington-based law firm. When I submitted the draft I got exclamations of delight and a promise to provide quick feedback from all the principals. It never came, and my phone queries went unanswered. So I waited, and waited, and waited—and then waited some more. http://tc.eserver.org/31425.html http://tc.eserver.org/31425.html This month's column doesn't focus on business strategy per se, but rather on how independents market themselves once they identify their markets and know what it is they want to convey. http://tc.eserver.org/31397.html http://tc.eserver.org/31397.html We haven't yet met a corporate communicator who felt overstaffed. Budgets have been cut to the bone, responsibility has expanded, there are new communication tools to learn about and new directions to explore. For smart freelancers, this spells opportunity. In our last column we looked at the editor/freelance writer equation from the in-house person's viewpoint and, as promised, we will take the freelancer's perspective this time. http://tc.eserver.org/31302.html http://tc.eserver.org/31302.html I received a slightly panicked call the other day from a colleague who had recently ventured out on her own after many years of working for others. She had been lured into self-employment by an opportunity that matched up her passion and her skills—but it wasn't going to pay all the bills. So she needed to get serious about starting up some kind of freelance business. But where to start? Although my colleague had taken the necessary legal steps in her state (notably, applying for a business license), she didn't know what to do next. She was, in her own words, paralyzed. http://tc.eserver.org/31332.html http://tc.eserver.org/31332.html Many years ago I was taken to lunch by two legislative analysts for a large law firm who figured that if I could do similar work on my own then maybe they could, too. As we talked, it became clear that what they were really looking for was a job-sharing venture that would give them more time to spend with their young children. When I asked them what they would do if two different clients needed something at the same time, they looked a bit stunned. http://tc.eserver.org/31140.html http://tc.eserver.org/31140.html If you're considering a move to the contract side of the fence, you might want to think about the questions in this blog post before making a decision. http://tc.eserver.org/31130.html http://tc.eserver.org/31130.html This 24-page e-book is a compilation of six articles, all focused on starting and growing a successful freelance copywriting business. In addition to the articles, there is also a resource page with suggestions for courses and further reading. http://tc.eserver.org/30757.html http://tc.eserver.org/30757.html Offers comprehensive advice to information professionals considering taking up self-employed freelance information consultancy. Draws attention to the risks associated with leaving the protection offered by corporate employment, alongside the benefits of empowerment through being self-employed. Emphasizes the need for prior business planning and offers advice on business name, web presence, logos, business cards, professional subscriptions, the need to have an accountant and register for value added tax, and dealings with banks and with the local Business Link. Advises against acquiring company status, joining trade groups, untargeted advertising, brochures and mailshots, and professional indemnity cover. Suggests ways of seeking work through networking with contacts, advises on the risks associated with imprecise agreements with clients, and emphasizes that the most important aspect of successful self-employment is self promotion. http://tc.eserver.org/30452.html http://tc.eserver.org/30452.html Speculative work, or free pitching, 'spec' for short, is considered unethical among leading graphic design associations around the world. http://tc.eserver.org/30453.html http://tc.eserver.org/30453.html No matter what you call it, Spec Work, Free Pitch, etc the concept is the same. I'll get a handful of designers or studios to come up with a handful of concepts for my website, and the winner gets my business. Great concept? No! There are no winners here. http://tc.eserver.org/30357.html http://tc.eserver.org/30357.html The freedom to be a consultant or independent contractor (C&IC), to work on your own, to work at home, to 'tele-commute' has become one of the principal aspects that entices otherwise happy, healthy, sane people to leave their jobs and hang out their shingles. But like nearly every other aspect of being independently employed, working out of the home presents advantages and disadvantages in such areas as lifestyle, professionalism, and tax considerations. http://tc.eserver.org/30323.html http://tc.eserver.org/30323.html As a technical writer with over seven years of experience and a Master's degree, I am disappointed with the lack of part-time jobs and lack of responsiveness by employers to create part-time technical writing positions. http://tc.eserver.org/30312.html http://tc.eserver.org/30312.html The technical contracting industry provides a unique career opportunity for experienced professionals in most technical communications disciplines. It also provides a possible alternative to unemployment in view of the continuing 'down-sizing' and restructuring activity going on in today's marketplace. http://tc.eserver.org/29410.html http://tc.eserver.org/29410.html Determining how long it takes to complete a job is essential for planning and for budgeting your time, whether you're a wage slave or a freelancer. In this article, I'll focus on the needs of the freelancer, but the same approach will work equally well for managers of teams of technical communicators and even for lone writers. http://tc.eserver.org/28194.html http://tc.eserver.org/28194.html One of the biggest temptations as an independent is to watch the money roll in and just focus on the number in your bank account. If you are incorporated, then you know the importance of strict accounting; out of that number, you have to take into account corporate taxes as well as personal income tax. However, if you are a sole proprietor or undeclared, you only have to take into consideration personal tax withholdings and the other associated costs (insurance, retirement, etc.), right? Wrong. In both cases, it's important to set aside a portion of your earnings in a savings account for rainy days. http://tc.eserver.org/27835.html http://tc.eserver.org/27835.html Freelancing is business. Loss from unexpected problems, such as a robbery, is a business loss, not a reflection of who you are. http://tc.eserver.org/27836.html http://tc.eserver.org/27836.html Indexers, like other freelancers, often work alone. Although they have unlimited access to indexes prepared by others via the bookstore or public library, they rarely have the opportunity to meet with other indexers to talk about indexing, indexing techniques, or a project they may be struggling with. This can be frustrating for both beginning and advanced indexers, especially those who receive little feedback from clients about the quality of their work. http://tc.eserver.org/27838.html http://tc.eserver.org/27838.html Ghostwriting has a lot to offer the young (or not-so-young) writer or editor with the right personality, professional skills, and appetite for variety and adventure. But it's not for everyone. You can make money, have fun, learn new things, and meet interesting people. You can also get horribly ripped off unless you know your value and how to use it. If you put someone else's name on your work or push someone else's favorite cause or ideas, do it so you come out a winner. Below are a few suggestions and observations gleaned the hard way. http://tc.eserver.org/27839.html http://tc.eserver.org/27839.html Full-time freelancing--is it the ideal way to work or a sentence to solitary confinement? The answer is in the eye of the beholder. Freelancing offers unparalleled independence, blessed freedom from office politics, uninterrupted work, control over your life—and endless hours of solitude, especially if you also live alone. http://tc.eserver.org/27837.html http://tc.eserver.org/27837.html Conventional wisdom defines business success largely by company size; the steeper the growth curve, the better. But is this model appropriate for freelancers? Most freelancers in publishing work independently; the amount of work we can accept is limited by the number of hours we can work and how many pages we can edit, proofread, or index per hour. For this reason, if we cultivate too many clients, we’re forced to turn down projects we’d like to accept. On the other hand, few freelancers have arrangements for receiving regular, predictable assignments from clients. http://tc.eserver.org/27843.html http://tc.eserver.org/27843.html Marketing yourself is an attitude, not an activity. It is learning to think of yourself and your skills as a product that someone can use. http://tc.eserver.org/27834.html http://tc.eserver.org/27834.html Working as a part-time freelancer in addition to holding down a full-time job can certainly have its drawbacks: telling a friend you can't go to the movies with her this weekend because you have a deadline, or turning down a large job you would love to do because your schedule just won't allow it. But in today's financial climate, more and more of us are finding it a necessity, and we're learning how to work it into our lives. It can be a way to supplement income or, for some, a way to test the freelancing waters. Whatever your reasons, the overall message is to get out there and do it. You'll never know if you can until you try. http://tc.eserver.org/27840.html http://tc.eserver.org/27840.html Some negotiating situations can be extremely difficult. If you find yourself in such a situation, recognize it. Don’t conclude that it represents a failure on your part. http://tc.eserver.org/27833.html http://tc.eserver.org/27833.html As professionals, we know to make every effort to obtain payment from clients before resorting to legal action. Doing things such as calling the person with whom you've worked on the project, calling the company's financial officer, calling the company's general manager and/or owner, following up with letters, and following up with more letters sent by certified mail are all good ways to let your client know that you won't be ignored. But sometimes our best efforts fail and the only recourse is legal help. http://tc.eserver.org/27842.html http://tc.eserver.org/27842.html Assume that negotiation is part of freelancing. When called about a job, express an interest in the proposed project and its terms, but don’t feel compelled to accept the whole package immediately. http://tc.eserver.org/27845.html http://tc.eserver.org/27845.html Constructive feedback can help you feel more confident about your skills at a number of stages of your career. Whereas you might feel that you need client feedback more as a new freelancer than when you’re established, assessments of your work can also be valuable when you have moved to a new area, are working with a new client, are trying to break into a specialized field or type of publication, or want to negotiate for a better rate. http://tc.eserver.org/27774.html http://tc.eserver.org/27774.html Have you ever considered breaking out of your nine to five and 5-by-5-foot cubicle to become a full-time freelance writer? http://tc.eserver.org/27772.html http://tc.eserver.org/27772.html Freelancers often wonder where to find clients. What kind of companies need white papers written for them, anyway? Here's three simple questions that will tell you the answer. http://tc.eserver.org/26725.html http://tc.eserver.org/26725.html You have to stand out from the crowd. You have to sparkle. How do you do this? Simple. It all starts with The Big Idea. http://tc.eserver.org/26275.html http://tc.eserver.org/26275.html Realistically, it will be impossible to keep every client due to any number of factors; the marketing director you've worked with for years leaves or another design firm offers a 'loss leader' project. While some scenarios are out of your control, many are not and taking a proactive stance can do wonders. http://tc.eserver.org/26273.html http://tc.eserver.org/26273.html We creative professionals tend to be a right-brained bunch, harnessing our creative talents to create practical solutions for our clients. Creating pricing structures, estimates and invoices are not high on our enjoyment list. But we can avoid some common pitfalls and potentially unhappy clients by pricing our work based on project value rather than an hourly rate. http://tc.eserver.org/26229.html http://tc.eserver.org/26229.html Should your blog have a business? Jim Coudal shares insights into the adventure of transitioning from client services to product creation. http://tc.eserver.org/26215.html http://tc.eserver.org/26215.html The advantages of staying in the same profession as when you we employed in a standard way: you already know the job; no need for immediate additional training; you probably have a good idea about procedures, costs, processes. http://tc.eserver.org/26028.html http://tc.eserver.org/26028.html You're more than a writer, you're a business owner. You're a manager, a marketer, a negotiator, a technology guru and more. http://tc.eserver.org/25370.html http://tc.eserver.org/25370.html Starting your own business is the dream of many. Is it really right for you though? Here are 10 points to consider carefully before you take the plunge. http://tc.eserver.org/25347.html http://tc.eserver.org/25347.html What kind of contract do I sign with a literary agent? Here are some things to consider. http://tc.eserver.org/25348.html http://tc.eserver.org/25348.html There are all sorts of professional organizations for writers, and all sorts of reasons why you should probably join at least one. The organizations fall into two rough categories – those that serve writers in general and those that address a specific group of writers. http://tc.eserver.org/25224.html http://tc.eserver.org/25224.html Freelancer writers tend to develop something of a superior attitude at times. Some of us feel that we are a cut above our brothers and sisters who work as employees. http://tc.eserver.org/24877.html http://tc.eserver.org/24877.html Some contractors short-change themselves by failing to reveal in cost proposals all of the tasks they perform. Argues that full disclosure can improve a contractor's bottom line. http://tc.eserver.org/24370.html http://tc.eserver.org/24370.html Taking the plunge into self-employment in the field of marketing and technical communications is a major step to contemplate. The many factors that one takes for granted when working in a corporate environment become problematic when one goes out 'on one’s own.' On the other hand, staying in a boring, less than challenging, or limited job largely because of the security it carries might be called 'sure-a-cide.' In making the transition to self-employment, it is necessary to pay close attention to a number of issues, but these issues may not be obvious at the beginning. On the other hand, many concerns that might otherwise appear to be essential to this transition may basically take care of themselves and can be lowered in priority. The 'trick' is figuring which is which. http://tc.eserver.org/24305.html http://tc.eserver.org/24305.html A web portal for freelance writers, with career advice and articles about a variety of topics. http://tc.eserver.org/24309.html http://tc.eserver.org/24309.html The Web offers a second universe for writers. Web publications have opened up just as the paper markets have shrunk for journalists, humorists, essayists, fictioneers, and yes, freelancing technical communicators. Webzines appear at a time when pay rates for magazine articles and books have begun to mirror the economy’s split into poor and rich, with fewer lucrative contracts in the middle. But now the opportunity exists for a writer to make a middle-class living on the Web. http://tc.eserver.org/24301.html http://tc.eserver.org/24301.html To succeed as an independent consultant, technical communicators must master basic business concepts. These include properly setting up the business, marketing, and understanding basic contracts. When setting up their business, independent consultants must consider the legal form of their business, required licensees, insurance, retirement plans, and industry going rates. Marketing methods are divided into passive and active techniques. Independent consultants must know how to market to two main channels: agencies and direct clients. http://tc.eserver.org/24283.html http://tc.eserver.org/24283.html Every trap can be instructive if you realize what’s happening, when it's happening. There are dozens of possible scenarios, and if you get a roomfull of independent consultants together, they’ll all have at least one war story to tell about their nightmare client. We pooled some of our worst experiences. Then we came up with solutions. Some of the solutions came to us as the situation unfolded; some solutions came only with wizened hindsight. http://tc.eserver.org/24267.html http://tc.eserver.org/24267.html If work coming in the door is not bringing in enough income or is just not satisfying, it may be time to cultivate new clients. However, moving into an unfamiliar field presents a new set of challenges. How do you navigate your way into that field? How do you demonstrate your credentials? A step-by-step method does exist. It requires research to identify the right niche and more research to focus on the right customers. Only after sufficient information has been gathered is action appropriate. http://tc.eserver.org/24201.html http://tc.eserver.org/24201.html Interaction design incorporates a lot of skills from other disciplines, such as technical writing and information architecture. This article discusses the unique areas of interaction design with which technical communicators may not be familiar. Expanding your skills in these areas will help you sell yourself as an interaction designer. http://tc.eserver.org/24195.html http://tc.eserver.org/24195.html Networking—whether done formally or informally, alone or as part of a group—can give you a competitive edge in getting (and keeping!) business coming to you as a contractor or independent technical communicator. http://tc.eserver.org/24194.html http://tc.eserver.org/24194.html Times are changing. Before 2001, when you went to sell your technical writing services, you might have checked a job board, read a newspaper, or called the manager of Human Resources and then referred to a written job description. In 2004, things are different. http://tc.eserver.org/24196.html http://tc.eserver.org/24196.html Many of us (myself included) get caught up in our day-to-day work and forget the value that comes with meeting people face to face. I was reminded of the importance of these meetings in January, when I attended the STC-James River Chapter 2004 Conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. The conference sessions covered everything from intercultural technical communication to XML migration strategies. For me, the conference was an opportunity to find out what was on the minds of technical communicators in the area. As it turned out, some of those concerns related to the theme for this issue. http://tc.eserver.org/24145.html http://tc.eserver.org/24145.html Working for yourself can be a blessing and a curse. Independent contractors ('ICs') enjoy more freedom and control over their work than employees do -- and they can earn more money, too. But they also have to contend with deadbeat clients, self-employment taxes and the higher cost of doing business on their own. http://tc.eserver.org/24071.html http://tc.eserver.org/24071.html If you're a freelancer/contract tech writer, you need to promote yourself. Think of yourself as a store with exactly one product, namely your time. You can only sell that product to one customer at a time. What you need to do is make sure each sale is a good one, and that you sell as much of your time as possible, because no one pays you for down time if you're independent. http://tc.eserver.org/24007.html http://tc.eserver.org/24007.html Anyone who’s ever considered working independently has probably approached this decision with caution. And no wonder: Outside the comfortable structure of full-time employment lies a seemingly chaotic and intimidating sea of new challenges. http://tc.eserver.org/23687.html http://tc.eserver.org/23687.html Many STC members work independently as freelancers, temps, or consultants. In some recent presentations I’ve given to STC members, many independent workers have asked me about ways to get more money and satisfaction out of their contracting careers. Almost invariably, my advice is to explore the possibilities of engaging clients directly, rather than using a staffing or consulting company. http://tc.eserver.org/23663.html http://tc.eserver.org/23663.html Independent contractors and consultants know the value of working cooperatively with other professionals to complete complex projects. 'Other professionals' includes subcontractors, other independent contractors and consultants, and business partners. The formation of these kinds of strategic relationships can help meet the demands of today’s diverse markets and clients. This paper outlines some of the basic issues that surround business relationships, including planning (estimating and bidding), formalizing project-based contractual relationships, and exploring more permanent partnership arrangements. http://tc.eserver.org/23627.html http://tc.eserver.org/23627.html This paper describes the differences between an employee, an independent contractor, and a consultant and why it is important to understand these distinctions. It also mentions why it is important that independent contractors set effective goals and describes the difference between static goals and dynamic goals. An approach for taking up assignments as an independent contractor is provided. This approach describes activities that need to be done prior to starting an assignment, while working on the assignment, and after the assignment is completed. http://tc.eserver.org/23125.html http://tc.eserver.org/23125.html Freelancers can be bright, savvy, ornery, creative -- a thousand descriptions apply, but 'conformist' usually isn't one of them. Here are some tips for hiring and working with freelancers, and for keeping your employees happy at the same time. http://tc.eserver.org/23029.html http://tc.eserver.org/23029.html This presentation is designed to help independent contractors write their own contracts. Before attending the presentation think about your current approach to using contracts in your business. http://tc.eserver.org/22653.html http://tc.eserver.org/22653.html To live the freelance life is to live a life of uncertainty. Not knowing when or from where your next paycheck is coming requires a certain mind-set that not everyone possesses. Some may argue that with so many companies struggling just to keep their heads above water now that the bang is out of the Big Web Boom, full-time work is no more secure than the freelance lifestyle. But before you unplug that feeding tube once and for all, ask yourself if you really have what it takes. http://tc.eserver.org/22049.html http://tc.eserver.org/22049.html This is an example of a typical agreement used for freelance writing assignments. Not that there is specific limitation of rights granted to the “buyer.” In no case do you want to sell blanket rights to your writing. It may be necessary to do it, but make every effort to negotiate a first national rights condition. If the clients wants more, get them to pay more. http://tc.eserver.org/22056.html http://tc.eserver.org/22056.html If getting into the technical writing business is a challenge, and it assuredly is, defining our employment status often poses a few questions too. Naturally, there’s the common full-time employee status we all know and understand fairly well, but when we find ourselves dealing with a technical services or technical consulting firm there can be some murky waters, and more than a few aberrations of the “traditional” understanding of the term. So, we need to define some “terms” of employment since the majority of technical writers will ultimately encounter variations. http://tc.eserver.org/21367.html http://tc.eserver.org/21367.html Think you'd like to set up shop as an independent information architecture consultant? Polar Bear book co-author Louis Rosenfeld has a few words of advice: it's not your IA skills that are necessarily the most important ones. http://tc.eserver.org/21308.html http://tc.eserver.org/21308.html These workshop notes list many of the things that you will need to consider if you intend to become a freelance technical communicator in the UK. The main topics are: your motivation; getting help with your business; legal and administrative issues; business infrastructure; working practices; advertising and publicity; office environment. The workshop was presented at the ISTC Conference, Bosworth, 2002. http://tc.eserver.org/21208.html http://tc.eserver.org/21208.html So you think you've got the cojones to be a freelancer, eh? Then join Evany as she gives you some pointers on this wild and woolly career move. http://tc.eserver.org/19941.html http://tc.eserver.org/19941.html Good technical communication is critical to the success of products and ultimately to the success of companies. But even the most perfect manuals may go unread, and the most elegant help systems may go unnoticed unless you take the time to promote the quality and necessity of your work. You need to showcase your talents and to encourage people throughout your company--and the community--to value and understand the work that you do. This will ideally lead to more respect, better pay, and more interesting work. http://tc.eserver.org/19848.html http://tc.eserver.org/19848.html Small, independent business owners never really stop thinking about their businesses; after all, your latest and greatest client may be on the stair stepper next to you at the gym. However, you know that sometimes you need a change of scenery, a change of activity, a chance to unhinge the hips that sometimes feel they are permanently fixed in a sitting position. Plus, occasionally, it’s necessary to realize that there is a world out there that is full of interesting things that have nothing to do with publication deadlines, document management, or online help. Yes, really, there is. http://tc.eserver.org/19871.html http://tc.eserver.org/19871.html In the 90’s, contingency staffing (also called temporary staffing) has become a way of life for businesses that have had to streamline operations and reduce fixed costs in order to compete. Consequently, contract employment and independent contracting have become a way of life for many technical communicators who can’t — or prefer not to — find a full-time job. http://tc.eserver.org/19872.html http://tc.eserver.org/19872.html The presenters examine all aspects of contracting from the viewpoint of both the contractor and the employer/client. The focus will be on the contract itself which provides a clear starting point for maneuvering through the critical issues, including what constitutes a legal contract and topics a contract should cover. The ensuing discussion will cover the different ways that writers work and are paid, managing the inevitable changes to a project, and a closer look at the pros and cons of working on an hourly or term contract compared to fixed price contracts, or contracts with an upset limit. http://tc.eserver.org/19732.html http://tc.eserver.org/19732.html Freelancing is one of the most lucrative options available to Technical Writers. While being your own boss may sound pleasant, it is not as easy as it sounds. http://tc.eserver.org/19674.html http://tc.eserver.org/19674.html What does it take to get a Web site running on the Internet? When you have a site that is ready for some real-life testing, you are ready to put the site up. Publishing a Web site is a three-step process: getting a domain name, choosing a host, and posting the site. http://tc.eserver.org/19550.html http://tc.eserver.org/19550.html Writers today are being advised to stop thinking in terms of building a life-long career with one employer, and instead view themselves as a one-person corporation offering specialized services to whomever is willing to pay the highest price. http://tc.eserver.org/19556.html http://tc.eserver.org/19556.html How to tell your client the truth even when a project isn't working out as planned. http://tc.eserver.org/19527.html http://tc.eserver.org/19527.html 'I love everything about being self-employed--except for waiting to get paid! My paychecks never seem to arrive on time. Sometimes my clients forget to send my invoices to Accounts Payable or the invoices get misplaced; other times the process just bogs down and takes forever. Whatever the reason, I'm stuck waiting for checks that don't come.' This article addresses the question: How can I get my clients to pay on time? http://tc.eserver.org/18773.html http://tc.eserver.org/18773.html At a time when the economy is in recession, it may seem foolish to launch a new company. On the other hand, at such a time who better than you should be in control of your career and your financial fortunes? Starting a new company is one way to be certain you will always have a job. In fact it’s a great way to ensure that you’ll have two or three jobs, most of which technical communicators are well qualified to do. http://tc.eserver.org/18649.html http://tc.eserver.org/18649.html My experience in the corporate environment has been that larger companies don't go out of their way to hire home-based freelancers. That's not to say that they never do -- it simply hasn't been my experience with them. I run into this problem all the time. Finding off-site work is a challenge. I scour the top 20 or so job search engines and other places for work and, while there really are quite a few contract positions out there, nearly all of them require on-site work. That's the bad news. Here's the good news: I have figured this thing out, believe it or not. In fact, I'm working on a book and a seminar about it. To locate good work that allows you to work out of the home office, you must know three things: How to look. Where to look. Hw to build trusting relationships with your customers. http://tc.eserver.org/18266.html http://tc.eserver.org/18266.html As consultants and freelancers, we try to adhere to the theory that our clients are always right. However, clients are sometimes dead wrong. Most of us at one time or another face situations in which clients ask us to behave unethically or treat us unethically. How do we handle such situations and maintain good client relations? This workshop explores the use of a value analysis model in resolving ethical dilemmas, using representative case studies. http://tc.eserver.org/18258.html http://tc.eserver.org/18258.html Win/win proposals benefit both the freelance technical communicator and the client. Not only do they get you the job, but they establish a clear understanding of the obligations of both parties that you can refer back to later as the project unfolds. The progression presentation examines the essential elements of a winning proposal, including background information, recommendations, scope of work, assumptions made in preparing the proposal, task and activity breakdown, time estimate, detailed schedule, personnel profiles, fees and expenses, terms and conditions, and relevant work experience. http://tc.eserver.org/18255.html http://tc.eserver.org/18255.html Discover if technical writing is right for you, and if it is, find out how to learn what you need to know. http://tc.eserver.org/18180.html http://tc.eserver.org/18180.html With the recent downturn in the economy, newsrooms, newspapers, magazine and Web outlets are letting staff writers go, and are looking for cheaper content alternatives. Buying content from syndicates is becoming more popular for these publishers. Watch for this trend to continue. http://tc.eserver.org/18179.html http://tc.eserver.org/18179.html Paying by the word comes from the print publishing world. Web editors have continued this model. http://tc.eserver.org/18173.html http://tc.eserver.org/18173.html The Web offers a second universe for writers. Web publications have opened up just as the paper markets have shrunk for journalists, humorists, essayists, fictioneers, and yes, freelancing technical communicators. Webzines appear at a time when pay rates for magazine articles and books have begun to mirror the economy’s split into poor and rich, with fewer lucrative contracts in the middle. But now the opportunity exists for a writer to make a middle-class living on the Web. http://tc.eserver.org/15101.html http://tc.eserver.org/15101.html Recommends that technical writers working as independent contractors quote flat fees for projects instead of hourly rates. The article offers tips on preparing portfolios and conducting client interviews. http://tc.eserver.org/15102.html http://tc.eserver.org/15102.html Frick responds to several common questions of novice independent contractors. http://tc.eserver.org/15160.html http://tc.eserver.org/15160.html Answers some common questions about Letters of Agreement, documents used by independent contractors to define the specifics of particular projects. http://tc.eserver.org/15164.html http://tc.eserver.org/15164.html Offers tips for independent contractors on staying efficient and productive. http://tc.eserver.org/15217.html http://tc.eserver.org/15217.html Responding to articles from a previous issue of Intercom, Frick reacts to professional trends that affect her independent consulting business. http://tc.eserver.org/14958.html http://tc.eserver.org/14958.html So you've got a contract. The client seems reasonably well heeled and reliable (or you have an agency that can run interference for you). All you have to do is produce and collect, right? Not necessarily! As the following anecdotes show, having a good contract and having your professional ducks in a row are important at all stages of your client relationship. http://tc.eserver.org/14957.html http://tc.eserver.org/14957.html In an economy that is constantly changing, many technical writers are (or have thought about being) contractors. Being your own boss certainly does have a certain cachet. But is it for you? http://tc.eserver.org/14728.html http://tc.eserver.org/14728.html Fugate discusses how self-employed technical communicators can maintain long-term relationships with multiple clients while still catering to their current customers. http://tc.eserver.org/14694.html http://tc.eserver.org/14694.html Frick lists thirteen questions for people who want to know if they have the personality to succeed at self-employment. http://tc.eserver.org/14647.html http://tc.eserver.org/14647.html Lathrop identifies the red flags that might indicate an uncooperative client. http://tc.eserver.org/14648.html http://tc.eserver.org/14648.html STC presents the results of its 1999 Independent Contractor/Temp Agency Employee Survey. http://tc.eserver.org/14178.html http://tc.eserver.org/14178.html Independent contractors who don't know about — or who ignore — the relevant aspects of current contractor tax law are endangering their own livelihood and pose a significant threat to their client companies. They're complex, arbitrary, and inconsistently applied, but knowing the rules can keep you and your clients safe. So here they are, in a nutshell. http://tc.eserver.org/14147.html http://tc.eserver.org/14147.html It's hard enough your first day at work as a permanent employee. There are forms to fill out, introductory meetings to attend, tools to learn. But people are likely to cut you a little slack at first, while you come up to speed. Then there's your first day as a contractor. You're expected to hit the ground running, ask what you need to know, and get productive as fast as possible. How can you minimize your initial minutes of floundering around, and get to work quickly? The sets of questions below, while by no means comprehensive, will help you figure out how your new environment works. They are grouped, but not prioritized. http://tc.eserver.org/14098.html http://tc.eserver.org/14098.html Freelance Online is a professional online service for freelancers in the publishing and advertising fields. It serves as a directory for employers and as a resource and information center for freelancers. Freelance Online was launched in January 1996. Located in a suburb of Philadelphia, Freelance Online is committed to serving freelancers and employers already established and those who are new to the world of freelancing. Freelance Online's goal is to provide the most comprehensive listing of freelancers available, including not only established, seasoned professionals but also fresh, new talent. http://tc.eserver.org/13528.html http://tc.eserver.org/13528.html According to an analysis conducted by Daniel Pink, former speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore and contributor to Fast company magazine, approximately 25 million Americans are self-employed, independent contractors, or temporary employees. This means more than 16% of the U.S. workforce is working for themselves. While this is a significant statistic, it begs the question, is this a temporary trend or are we in the midst of a historic transition in the way we work? http://tc.eserver.org/13526.html http://tc.eserver.org/13526.html The past few years have brought many changes in the profession of technical communication: the expansion of professional roles within organizations, new technologies for document design and presentation, and the global cultural influence as technology expands to overseas markets. Perhaps the most important change in the profession, however, is not external like these, but internal in the ways that the core business model has adapted to the new, information-based development model. http://tc.eserver.org/13484.html http://tc.eserver.org/13484.html After a number of years in the field, many of us in technical communication see our careers becoming stagnant but are reluctant to make the choices that could offer renewal, professional or personal growth, additional skills, or simply a temporary break from the usual routine. Employers cat always provide career ladders for technical communicators. Enriching our careers is, to a great extent, our own responsibility and there are myriad ways to do thaif we accept our power to make changes for ourselves.