RE: Contracts

["Robart, Kay" <Kay -dot- Robart -at- tea -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us>]

I have been working in tech writing in the software business for almost
30 years now, and it has not been my impression that the ratio of
full-time versus contract writers has changed. Where I work now we
sometimes have more contractors than full-time writers, but now the
opposite is the case, and everywhere else I have worked, we have only
occasionally hired a contract writer. However, there are large companies
that tend to hire only contract writers.

Finding part-time work is probably more problematic, however. Most of
the time that I have needed to hire a contract writer, I have needed
that writer to work full time during the course of the contract. Of
course, I appreciated it if the writer didn't come in when he or she
didn't have work, but for the most part the need was for a full-time
effort. 

I did a bit of part-time work when I was laid off a few years ago, but
it was pretty hard to find. Any work was hard to find, though.

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+kay -dot- robart=tea -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+kay -dot- robart=tea -dot- state -dot- tx -dot- us -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of Lonie McMichael
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 2:28 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Contracts

Hello, Everyone:

I have been in academia getting my PhD (technical communication and
rhetoric) for the last seven years, so I'm a bit out of the loop. I
would
appreciate any information you have to share.

I would like to work on short-term and part-time tech writing contracts
while I focus on getting some other things up and running that have to
do
with my research (health communication). When I left, tech comm work was
heading more in the temp direction than in permanent jobs. Is this still
the case? Are these kind of jobs readily available now or are they few
and
far between? If they are available, do they usually want you on or off
site?

I assume that it is still a good idea to form a relationship with a
number
of agencies that specialize in such work.

Before I went back to school, I had ten years in software and hardware
writing as well as marketing communication. Now I can add a variety of
skills to that list (instruction, health communication, research, etc.),
so
I'm pretty flexible. I don't have high-end programming skills, but I
have
the basics in most areas. I'm also in a good position because I can move
just about anywhere though I would prefer to stay in the New Mexico,
Texas,
Oklahoma area because of family.

Any information is appreciated!!

--Lonie McMichael

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