TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Having Writers Block From:d r <writeagain -at- JUNO -dot- COM> Date:Sat, 18 Jan 1997 11:40:12 EST
On Fri, 17 Jan 1997 10:19:14 -0800 Linda Castellani <castle -at- CRL -dot- COM>
writes:
>On Fri, 17 Jan 1997, Yvonne DeBellotte wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I need some information since I am new to the freelance writers
>> scene.
>>
>> 2. Also what is a 'tear sheet'? Is it the same as a writing
>sample?
>>
I am familiar with this term. I don't know if it is only used for
freelancers (which I have been from time to time) but I think that
somehow it is almost used as a "test" to see if you've been around. How
do I know? The first time someone used that term on me I asked and was
told, "Obviously you're not published if you have to ask that."
Interesting thing was that I had been published already and had them.
Another time, when I was doing stringer work, the editor needed more
writers and put out an ad for writer/editors. He was laughing and let me
in on this little joke. It was his way of knowing whether the people were
experienced if they knew the lingo (I have news for him, I 'm experienced
but I don't know all the lingo), so he asked them for "tear sheets" and
was laughing because they brought in typed samples of their work on paper
with a ragged edge (as if it was torn from a sheet of paper).
Sometimes I think that that term is used by old newspaper people or
people who want to hire editors/writers. Have no industry smarts but want
to look like they do.
What's wrong with saying >have you ever been published nationally? Can I
see proof that you have< or something like that?
D.R.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
