Careers>Freelance>Writing http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Careers/Freelance/Writing A listing of the most recently indexed works about Careers and Freelance and Writing in the field of technical communication (and technical writing). 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 Careers>Freelance>Writing http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Careers/Freelance/Writing Do We Need to Hire a Salaried Technical Writer or Should We Go With a Freelancer? 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. Freelance Technical Writing in Israel http://tc.eserver.org/35409.html http://tc.eserver.org/35409.html Observations about freelance technical writing in Israel. Essentials for the Mobile Writer 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. How to Estimate a Copy Writing Job 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. Breaking into Freelance Writing 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. A Few Essentials for the Freelancer 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. Supplementing Your Income With Side Projects 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. A Career in Technical Writing: Beach Time 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. A Career in Technical Writing: Two Dates to the Prom 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. Becoming a Freelance Technical Writer 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. The Freelance Copywriter's Six-Pack 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. Ghostwriting: Is It for You? 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. How to Find Clients Who Need White Papers 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. The Beginner's Guide to Freelance Writing 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. Ten Tips to Reaching Financial Success as a Freelance Writer 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. Do All Writers Need a Literary Agent? 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. Is the Freelance Writing Life for You? 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. Note to Contractors: Expose Your Writing Tasks 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. Freelance Writers 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. So You Want to Freelance as a Webzine Writer? 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. Sell Your Technical Writing Services 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. Freelance Technical Writing 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. Freelance, Independent, Contractor, Consultant... 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. Freelancing in Technical Writing – Part I 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. Technical Writing for the Freelancer 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. Going Beyond $1 a Word: Syndication 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. Going Beyond $1 Per Word: Getting Paid on the Internet 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. So You Want to Freelance as a Webzine Writer? 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.