Re: Tech Writers and Consulting Firms

[Marcia Coulter <NOTJUST -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM>]

Dennis Brandt <maudlin -at- chopin -dot- udel -dot- edu> wrote:

> I am an undergrad of English/Tech Writing at the U of Delaware, and I
>am writing to ask for your help with some questions I have.  I read
>your message on the Techwr-l newsgroup, and I thought you would be >
willing to take a stab at a few of my questions.

I have been investigating the role of technical writers in consulting
firms, tech writing groups, and tech writers as freelancers.  My
questions are as follows:

>1. Define your understanding of the technical writing consulting firm
>and how it differs (if it does) from a freelancer.

I've been free-lancing for the past five years. Before that I worked for
a tech writing consulting company (Orr and Associates, by name.) In the
past five years, I've subcontracted from my old employer a number of
times.

There are at least three distinctions to make, not two. These are:

1.  working as a (regular) employee of a consulting firm
2.  working as a subcontractor of a consulting firm (sometimes as a temp
employee)
3.  working directly for the client

Re 1:
This is much like working for any employer. They do all the non-tech
writing work. For example, finding clients, billing and collecting for
the work that you do, doing all the bookkeeping associated with running
a business, maintaining an office staff (receptionist or whatever), etc.

Don't ever underestimate the worth of all that. *Many* fine writers
can't sell their services. Others can do that; they just can't deal with
the bookkeeping required by the federal and state governments.

Working for a consulting company can -- at least potentially -- give you
the opportunity to work on more different kinds of things than you would
see working for a regular software company.

Re 2:
Working as a subcontractor for a consulting company. More money, no
benefits (usually), more freedom. The consulting company still does all
the non-tech writing work.

Re 3:
Working directly for a client. Still more money (no need to share with
the consulting company), still no benfits (except the ones you buy for
yourself), still more freedom. And *lots* of responsibility; you do all
the work.

>2. Have you seen an increase in consulting/freelancing as corporations
>down size?

Yes, but there's nearly always a reason for companies to "outsource".


>3. What are the benefits/disadvatages of in-house and consulting
>firm/freelance writing?

See #1. Also, diversity: I have a very low threshhold of boredom. The
thought of having to write on the same topic for a couple of year at a
time just gives me the willies.

A few examples of what I've done the last 5 years:

* Write manuals and produce training materials for a telecommunications
company.

* Conducted a training needs analysis for a 500-member MIS division of a
major utility

* Manage a team of writers and trainers producing training materials for
a company standardizing on OS/2 and selected Windows programs.

* Help write macros (and accompanying doc) that automate the production
of printed manuals in Word 2.0 and 6.0

* Design and conduct a class (called "Not Just the Facts") to help
people learn skills needed to conduct an information-gathering
interview.

Please feel free to contact me for more info or clarification.

---------------------

Marcia Coulter
notjust