TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Reply: How much knowledge is enough/too much From:Herman Holtz <holtz -at- CLARK -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 15 Mar 1995 08:17:41 -0500
On Tue, 14 Mar 1995, Robert A. Goff wrote:
> My current contract involves documenting the progress and results of
> testing a large manufacturing automation network by breaking it in various
> ways and watching what happens to overall system functions.
I wonder what mix we have here between staff tech writers and freelance
tech writers? And in the latter case, how many offer tech writing among
other consulting or contract services. One thing that raises this
question in my mind is thefact of the Marietta-Lockheed merger, forming
the largest defense corpration in the world and about to add some
stll-unknown number of unfortunate individuals to the reported 750,000
jobs already lost in the defense industry.
I would assume that this new round of layoffs will stimulate interest in
independent consulting, as reductions have in the past, and I wonder how
much impact this will have on the tech writing field and employment in it.
* * *
Herman Holtz [holtz -at- clark -dot- net]: Marketing Consultant/Proposal Specialist,
Writing & Ghost Writing Services, 35 years experience. Author of 60+
professional/business books, including best-selling How to Succeed as an
Independent Consultant (Wiley). PO Box 1731, Wheaton, MD 20915. Tel:
301-649-2499. Fax: 301-649-5745.
