Re: Discuss: Third party manuals?

Subject: Re: Discuss: Third party manuals?
From: Robert Plamondon <robert -at- PLAMONDON -dot- COM>
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 1995 06:37:13 PDT

> "Geoff Hart asked: <<If we do such a great job documenting software,
> why are so many people making a good living writing third party "how
> to" books? What are they doing right and what are we doing wrong?>>"

Making a good living? Are you serious? While nonfiction is a lot
steadier than fiction writing, few people make from their books what
we make in our salaries. I'll bet that the average computer book
makes less than $10,000 for the author; and that the average "big
name" (Microsoft Press, etc.) book makes less than $20,000. Not to
mention that you run out of areas in which you can write with speed
and authority pretty quickly. It makes being a salaried Technical
Writer look like the lap of luxury.

Most book authors write in their spare time, while holding down a
steady job.

-- Robert
--
Robert Plamondon * Writer * robert -at- plamondon -dot- com * (408) 321-8771
4271 North First Street, #106 * San Jose * California * 95134-1215
"Writing is like plumbing -- even people who know how to do it will
pay top dollar to keep their hands clean."


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