[FM Discuss] Floss Manuals - any links or referrals to paid work?

[Mark Hancock]

Hi Jay,

Good question. As a technical author/communicator and copywriter who has
been dabbling and doing a couple of bits here and there within OS
documentation, I've always got an eye on what paid opps there might be. I
know there are tech authors out there who have made money from being OS
experts and training others to use the systems (Drupal is good for this).

It goes without saying that it's worth being involved with OS manuals..
well, let me give my perspective. As someone very interested in the
political and creative possibilities of using OS software, it's important
that the manuals are the highest quality so people can get straight on with
the creative part of what they want to achieve and to make the handbooks as
easy to use as possible. This means editing and proofreading the great work
done by software developers. As you know yourself as a tech writer, we're
the channel between hardcore tech guys and the everyday user. Sometimes we
need to instill confidence to use the handbooks by judicial editing (sorry
software guys!) And of course, there are plenty of people who can't afford
to buy proprietary software that make use of OS CMSs and other software for
whatever reasons.

Altruism is all well and good, but we writers have got to make some cash (as
have software developers, of course). I'm not aware of there being much
funding for individuals working on the handbooks (although I'd be interested
to know if anyone has managed to get an Arts Council grant in the UK for
it!). I guess the other reason I'm interested in doing it is becuase I've
been out of the software documentation loop for about four years and it's
good for the CV!

Sorry, I know that's a bit of a ramble and not exactly what you were asking
and that you'll know most of it. I just thought I'd share some of my
thoughts. Also, have you read Why People Write Free Documentation?

http://onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2007/06/14/why-do-people-write-free-documentation-results-of-a-survey.html?page=1

Hope I don't cause any offense by saying things you probably know already?

best,

mark


On 11 March 2010 21:55, Jay Maechtlen <techwriter at covad.net> wrote:

> As an underemployed Technical Writer, I'm wondering what connections there
> might be between paid work and efforts like FlossManuals?
> Obviously, anything we do can be use in our portfolio.
> Also, for those open-source projects that are used commercially, it would
> be a way to show expertise.
> Thoughts?
>
> --
> Jay Maechtlen
> 626 444-5112 office
> 626 840-8875 cell
> www.laserpubs.com
>
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