Re: [Long] Making Money in Technical Writing & Roger Peterson

[Andrew Plato <aplato -at- EASYSTREET -dot- COM>]

I missed the first round of comments, but I can say there was one thing
missing from your book, Making Money in Technical Writing.

A stern warning to anyone who is considering becoming a freelancer that
doing so requires an extraordinary amount of commitment.  I have been
freelancing now for almost two years and I work WAY more than I ever did as
a full-timer.  It is not because I have a ton of clients, but because there
are so much work involved in setting up a company, marketing yourself, and
negotiating with clients.

I think a lot of people see freelancing in some rosy light.  Like
freelancers are these free, happy, self-fullfilled people with lots of money
and free-time.  The reality is, most freelancers are overworked, heavily
taxed, and often teetering on bankruptcy.  Sure, you can make a lot of
money.  But not without great expense to your sanity, social life, and
skills.


I rarely recommend this life style to people.  I think it requires a certain
type of ego and attitude to make it as a freelancer.  (Generally, ego
maniacs and workaholics are the only ones that ever succeed.  I think I have
the ego maniac part figured out now.)

 If security and free-time are important to you -- DO NOT become a freelance
tech writer.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Andrew Plato
Owner / Principal Consultant
Anitian Technology Services
www.anitian.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Kent <pkent -at- topfloor -dot- com>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.techwr-l
Date: Friday, January 30, 1998 10:45 AM
Subject: [Long] Making Money in Technical Writing & Roger Peterson


>Roger Peterson suggested that I write to the list.
>
>A few days ago Roger sent a msg to the list asking for people's comments
>about my book, "Making Money in Technical Writing" in comparison with
>Robert W. Bly's book, "Secrets of a Freelance Writer" Roger received around
>60 responses; most were asking for information about the books, but a few
>provided comments. Roger then summarized the comments, sent the summary to
>those 60 or so people ... and, unfortunately, then deleted the list of
>people.
>
>I say unfortunately because at least one of the comments was a little
>disturbing to me. I asked Roger for the chance to respond to the comments
>(a book reviewer sent me a copy of Roger's msg), but as he deleted the list
>that isn't possible. So I'm hoping you won't mind if I respond here.
>
>These are the comments (with the most disturbing first), followed by my
>responses.
>(These are summaries of comments by people responding to Roger, not Roger's
>comments.)


<<SNIP>>>