Question for Contract Tech Writers

["Patty" <fyrewede -at- adelphia -dot- net>]

I have a question for any and all contract tech writers 
out there.  It's rather long-winded, so please bear with
me...

My company, a tech startup in Massachusetts, is only 
giving me budget to hire a tech writer on a contract
basis, though IMO it's abundantly clear that we need a
*permanent, full-time* tech writer.  At present the only
person here with any tech writing skills *at all* is 
yours truly -- and I'm really more of a training person 
than a tech writer.

Our Product Management Director recently said this to
me with regard to the position we're trying to fill:
------------
"I'm sure there are tech writers out there that have 
 multiple gigs going on at the same time and clients 
 that bring them periodic work.  If we do proper 
 planning and make proper commitments to that writer 
 we can get the best of both.  The ability to work 
 with us in this fashion should absolutely be a 
 criteria for hire - otherwise I would recommend we 
 do it ourselves."
------------

I must tell you first off that there IS no one 
available such that we could "do it ourselves."
(What planet is he on??  I can't help but wonder...)

I will be on the road for training-related projects
off and on for the next 3 months.  We HAVE to get a
tech writer in if we're going to have a user guide
for our new release in November.

My question to my colleague is this:
===============================
I must say that, if I were in their shoes, unless 
there was a guarantee of future work *on paper* I 
would be reluctant to promise anything.  Contract 
work is very unreliable, especially in this economy.  

It would be extremely unwise for a contract tech 
writer to turn down other offers based on a "we'll 
probably have more work for you in 3 months, so 
stick around" request on our part.

If we can't step to the line with any guarantees, 
what's in it for them to commit to an ongoing
relationship with us?  And what incentive is there 
for them to follow through on that if they get 
another offer prior to our being ready for them to 
return for project #2?  

There's a saying Down South that may or may not 
apply here.  The saying is simply that "Askin' 
ain't gittin'."  :}

I'm just not sure that we can realistically expect 
a freelancer to commit to us in this way when we 
can't offer them anything tangible or financially/
legally binding in return.

I will certainly shoot for that, because I agree -- 
there is no doubt it works well for *us*.  I'm just 
not certain they will also believe it works well 
for them.
=============================

Am I just being naive?  Do contract tech writers
get anything out of arrangements like the one he
suggests?  What about working "on retainer"?  How
often is that done?

*Is* it realistic to hope that a contractor who does
one job for us for 8 or 9 weeks will be available for
another 8 or 9 weeks 4 months down the road from the
end of the first project?

TIA,

Patty


Patty McIntosh
Sr. Training Manager



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