career change from tech writing

[Devorah Adler <dadler -at- POWERVISION -dot- COM>]

In answer to Anonymous' question re "successfully transitioned from a
tech writing career into something related but with a more
artistic/creative
emphasis":

You didn't say whether you're currently a contractor, or working on
staff, but either way, there are ways of pulling this off:

If you're on staff, look around to see how you could take on a project
or two in your target area, both to pick up more skills for the
transition and to prove to management that you can do the new type of
work.  After you have a few of these projects under your belt, see if
you can get transferred or matrixed into the new type of work.
Depending on your organization's culture and size, you may have to find
and officially apply for a new slot, or the process may be less formal.
Ask around.

If you're a contractor, while on a long term project with a large
company, start cultivating contacts in the target area of that company,
and see if you can solicit a short project using the target skills.  If
you're a good, eager, easy-to-work-with tech writer, they may prefer you
- a known quantity with a work ethic - to calling a job shop to fill
their creative need.

I've seen a tech writer/help system developer (on-staff) transition to
editing newsletters and writing the CEO's speeches, and another on-staff
person with similar background become a programmer.  (OK, that's not
exactly what you want to do, but they followed the above process of
inching their way in, and it worked - and they're HAPPY!)

All success!

Devorah Adler
PowerVision Corporation
dadler -at- powervision -dot- com


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