What's the learning curve for DITA/SGML?

[Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca>]

V. David provided a few additional thoughts: <<About the recruiter -  
she has stated that she is paid by salary. Is this possible? I really  
thought they all get paid by commission.>>

I imagine that some recruiters work on salary for agencies that earn  
their money from commissions paid by clients. Would that make sense  
here?

Forgot to mention in my previous message in this thread that the  
advantage of _not_ working with an agency is that you're less likely  
to be bound to a noncompete clause; that is, some agencies will  
specifically prohibit you from working for a former contract client  
because they want to be able to charge a commission on your future  
services if that client wants you to work for them again. That may be  
a significant concern. It would be for me.

<<Married, no kids, can afford one more year before starting a family.

That sounds awfully definite. <g> Kids really do make a big  
difference in one's plans. My take on this is that you should have  
'em while you're young, and still have a hope keeping up with them.  
I've earned my grey hairs and sleep deprivation honestly. <g>

  <<The recruiter has suggested I incorporate - the tax rates look  
very appealing, compared to filing as a sole proprietor/contractor.  
(Any thoughts on this, btw?)>>

It's much more complicated than tax rates alone, and even the tax  
rate question isn't as straightforward as it might seem. For example,  
the corporate tax rate may be better than the personal tax rate, but  
what happens when you take money out of the corporation and into your  
own hands? Always speak to a tax accountant familiar with the  
specific idiosyncracies of your jurisdiction. Incorporation makes  
very good sense for some, and really makes no sense at all for  
others. (I'm in the latter category, but I'm in Canada... whole  
different tax and liability issues.)

<<I'm devouring everything I can find about writing in DITA and most  
of the information is conceptual and quite high level. I've searched  
and read the archives and visited the suggested websites. Anyone  
willing to share first-hand info on how they went through the  
learning process?>>

Haven't gone through the process myself (it's not really relevant to  
the work I do), but in my experience, the easiest way to move from  
conceptual/high level to something more concrete is to actually try  
creating a document using the relevant tools. (Other techwhirlers can  
recommend what tools you should try using.)

If you're an STC member, or know someone how is, France Baril has  
been running an excellent series of introductory columns in  
_Intercom_ magazine that's worth looking up.


----------------------------------------------------
-- Geoff Hart
ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca / geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com
www.geoff-hart.com
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