Re: Professionalism and pay (was RE: 'Know thy audience')

[Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

This is correct--the skills that qualify as Tech Writing apparently 
range from copyediting to business analysis, system architecture, 
programming, technical expertise at the component level, and so on. Tech 
writing skills are required in many other job descriptions. Hourly, 
staff, independent contractor or W2, it doesn't really matter. I think 
tech writers who are good at their job are perceived as professionals 
and are paid commensurately, and this submits to microeconomic 
explanations. The rarer skills are harder to find and better compensated.

But the fact that our job description can be codified into law as 
non-professional is a real and troublesome aspect of our quest for 
stature and standing in the business model.

Dan Goldstein wrote:
> "Supply and demand" only goes so far. What matters is that the company
> demands a tech writer _like me_, and that my skills and attributes are
> in rare supply. That's the perception I care about.
>
> -- Dan Goldstein
>
> ("... and of my great modesty you say nothing?")  :-)
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Combs, Richard
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 2:15 PM
>> To: TECHWR-L
>> Subject: Professionalism and pay (was RE: 'Know thy audience')
>>
>> ... Perception, status, professional designation, respect -- 
>> none of those matter except to the degree (rather small, IMO) 
>> that they may influence the demand or supply. 
>>
>>     
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