<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Hi, Mark<br>
No offense- I was just trying to start a discussion, see what turned up.<br>
One of the things a company should consider when evaluating a software
package of any type is the documentation and resources available.<br>
Our efforts should make the software more valuable and more likely to
be used. <br>
Still, if/when a company deploys some software, they may need training
and possibly docs/training materials specific to their needs.<br>
What better place to look than to those who've already helped document
it and have already used it?<br>
<br>
Now, an important part of the puzzle: How do we market ourselves?<br>
(individual/group, forums/etc?)<br>
Regards<br>
Jay<br>
<br>
<br>
Mark Hancock wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:2f4f0e371003111501q22810e00l5c2c5f52dab9510e@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Hi Jay,<br>
<br>
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). <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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!<br>
<br>
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? <br>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2007/06/14/why-do-people-write-free-documentation-results-of-a-survey.html?page=1">http://onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2007/06/14/why-do-people-write-free-documentation-results-of-a-survey.html?page=1</a><br>
<br>
Hope I don't cause any offense by saying things you probably know
already?<br>
<br>
best,<br>
<br>
mark<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 11 March 2010 21:55, Jay Maechtlen <span
dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:techwriter@covad.net">techwriter@covad.net</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">As
an underemployed Technical Writer, I'm wondering what connections there
might be between paid work and efforts like FlossManuals?<br>
Obviously, anything we do can be use in our portfolio.<br>
Also, for those open-source projects that are used commercially, it
would be a way to show expertise.<br>
Thoughts?<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Jay Maechtlen<br>
626 444-5112 office<br>
626 840-8875 cell<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.laserpubs.com"
target="_blank">www.laserpubs.com</a><br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________<br>
No infection found in this outgoing message<br>
Scanned by iolo System Shield®<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.iolo.com" target="_blank">http://www.iolo.com</a><br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Discuss mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Discuss@lists.flossmanuals.net" target="_blank">Discuss@lists.flossmanuals.net</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net"
target="_blank">http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net</a><br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<p><font color="#000000" face="Verdana" size="1">
<hr>No infection found in this incoming message<br>
Scanned by <b>iolo System Shield®</b><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.iolo.com">http://www.iolo.com</a></font>
</p>
<pre wrap="">
<hr size="4" width="90%">
_______________________________________________
Discuss mailing list
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Discuss@lists.flossmanuals.net">Discuss@lists.flossmanuals.net</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net">http://lists.flossmanuals.net/listinfo.cgi/discuss-flossmanuals.net</a>
_______________________________________
No infection found in this incoming message
Scanned by iolo System Shield®
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.iolo.com">http://www.iolo.com</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Jay Maechtlen
626 444-5112 office
626 840-8875 cell
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.laserpubs.com">www.laserpubs.com</a>
</pre>
</body>
</html>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><hr>No infection found in this outgoing message<br>Scanned by <b>iolo System ShieldŽ</b><br><a href="http://www.iolo.com">http://www.iolo.com</a></font>