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Making Money in Technical Writing By Peter Kent (Macmillan USA, 1998; $16.95; 280 pages)
By Kitty Keith, OSCTC Member
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This is an extract from an article in the August issue of TechniScribe, the Orange County STC newsletter. Kitty Keith, OCSTC member.
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Thinking about becoming a contract or freelance technical writer? If the thought has crossed your mind but you don't know where to look first, Peter Kent's Making Money in Technical Writing is a good place to start. There is a lot of
information that is more thoroughly covered in other books, but this one manages to communicate the basics of freelance and contract technical writing and gives encouraging advice on how to get started.
The first two chapters give you a general background on what technical writers actually do, explain how
to get started in the profession, and suggest the amount of money that can be made. Chapters four, five, and six get down to the nitty-gritty of what contracting and freelance writing are all about.
Subsequent chapters discuss topics like using technical service agencies to help you find contracts,
making the transition from a permanent job to a freelance one, and how to specialize, find work, and market yourself. There is a section on how to manage some of the primary concerns of would-be
freelancers, such as obtaining health insurance, starting a retirement program, paying taxes, arranging for time off, and what to do when you are between jobs.
There are six appendices. One provides checklists of things to do before looking for a contract with an
agency. Another appendix lists some of the larger technical service agencies and a few websites to check out to find agencies in your area.
Mr. Kent sums it all up by stressing that his "no-risk three-step program" really does work; he gets
complimentary e-mail from writers who have taken his advice and suggestions and have ventured out on their own. If you've been considering breaking out yourself but need a little guidance, this book is an
excellent place to start.
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