Finally, It Pays To Be A Writer!

It used to be that technical writers didn't get much respect or much money either. In the mid-1980s I heard Adam Osborne, who spoke at a Computer Faire, explain that software documentation was usually so dreadful because "in computer companies, the only thing lower than the manual writer is the janitor!"

This situation has, happily, reversed itself, according to Dorothy Webster, owner of a placement agency and training institute for tech writers. Webster led a MarinPro seminar on May 3, 1999 and shared with us her industry savvy on how to break into this newly lucrative field.

There is real opportunity in tech writing ¾ the demand is huge and jobs go begging, according to Webster. She founded the Webster Institute of Technical Skills in San Francisco because her placement agency, Webster & Associates, couldn't find enough qualified candidates for all the jobs they were trying to fill. It is "the first-of-its-kind vocational school for technical writing," according to Webster.

How much money can you make?
Up to $75 an hour or more, or over $100,000 a year as a senior employee. Of course you start much lower, but it goes up pretty quickly.

Can you work at home?
You usually have to start on the employer's premises, but a lot of work can be done from your home office.

What is the job like?
You can be doing a variety of things: gathering information, sorting through and winnowing out the info that's useful to your purposes, creating a work schedule, and of course cranking out the text. You have to work fast, work hard, self-edit, get rid of fluff, proofread, and deliver by the deadline.

What do you need to get hired?
A college degree and a portfolio of sample work.

What if you don't have a portfolio yet?
If you attend the Webster Institute, you will end up with an appropriate portfolio.

The Webster Institute and Webster & Associates placement agency are located at 690 Market St., Suite 407, San Francisco, CA 94104, (415)-291-1650. You can view their website at www.techwriters.com.