Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Technical Writing - Anatomy of a Technical Communication Job That Pays $82,961 to $107,854 a Year

It's important from time to time just to remind ourselves the kind of opportunities still exist out there for qualified technical writers and communicators despite the recent economic downturn. Here is one such full-time writing position, offered by a U.S. Federal Agency to U.S. citizen writers.
It pays a salary of $82,961 to $107,854 a year (depending on your qualifications) - the kind of money that 90% of all full-time poets, novelists, and screenwriters will never see.
I'll highlight some features of this position in order to give a better idea about all these wonderful opportunities that exist in technical writing for all those who are perhaps debating themselves whether to become a technical writer or not.

The person chosen for this position will serve as the Technical Writer and Editor of this Agency.
However, since the Agency is also running a nationwide "Health Campaign" (not its real name), this writer will also end up serving as the Project Officer of the campaign.
The responsibilities of this technical writer will include the following:
1) To develop and disseminate messages on new research findings.

2) To create different information products for health care professionals, researchers, the press, and the public which includes publications, e-newsletters, multimedia training, videos, public service announcements, and exhibits.

3) To write and issue news releases and to hold news teleconferences and media briefings.
4) To develop and execute promotion and dissemination plans.

5) To respond to inquiries from the public, the press, clinicians, and Researchers.
6) To maintain and build relationships with constituent groups and stakeholders and coordinates special events.

7 ) To update and maintain the Agency's clinical trails database.
8) To update and manage the content of the Agency's website and develop new web pages as needed.
So, that's what some technical writers do for $82K to $107K a year.
What do you think?

Do you agree with me that it's a pretty dynamic position that would require interpersonal and journalistic skills as well as straight forward information design and technical writing experience?
There are many such jobs out there for technical writers since the demand for good information and communication professionals will never disappear, regardless of the economy.

Society for Technical Communication (STC)'s membership web site is an excellent place to hunt for those jobs. I highly recommend it.

If you are ready to read more about what technical writing is all about and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com and claim your free report "How Much Do Technical Writers Make?" You might be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit us now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci

Technical Writing - When Should You Use the Passive Voice in a Technical Document?

Here is a rule pounded into every writer's head by all writing instructors: avoid the passive voice like the plague and use active voice whenever possible. That's good advice indeed but not the best within the context of technical writing.

Here are some situations in which it is perfectly all right to use passive voice.
Use passive voice in these 6 situations when you:

1) Want to ignore the agent of action because it does not matter.
Example: "The cover of the Annual Report has been torn." "That street has been renamed."
2) Want to hide the identity of the agent since that knowledge may give rise to an awkward situation or an uncomfortable accusation. Such use softens the severity of the situation by masking the identity of the culprit.

Example: "The wrong wire was connected to the power outlet." "All security cameras have been removed from the most sensitive areas of the nuclear plant."

3) Want to maintain the thematic unity between two consecutive sentences.
Example: "The server is not stable. It can be brought down by a single spike in the system load."
4) Want to emphasize the agent by mentioning it at the end of the sentence:
Example: "The circuit was overheated due to the failure of the 10K resistor."
5) Are not sure who the agent is:

Example: "This project has to be finished by March 5th." "The Documentation Plan has to be approved before we can design the templates."

6) Want to stress an action or an outcome:
Example: "Our research budget has been decimated." "They've been had!" "These reports have been altered."

If you are ready to read more about what technical writing is all about and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com and claim your free report "How Much Do Technical Writers Make?" You might be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit us now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci

Are You a Screenwriter? - How About a New Career in Technical Writing to Make Ends Meet?

Screenwriting is a passion. I'm well aware of it since I myself have written six feature scripts within the last ten years and a seventh one is brewing somewhere in the back of my head.
But I also have a confession to make: I think my chances of ever selling a script and moving on to a professional level of screenwriting is just about zero. Or, more precisely, about 500,000 to 1, at best.

How did I come up with that number? Easy.
Every year about 50,000 feature scripts get registered with WGA (Writer's Guild of America),which acts as the main repository of feature scripts in America. The average "float time" of a script is about 10 years. A script (if good enough) is circulated, considered, talked about, optioned, "packaged," kicked around, "attached to" this director or that talent, for about 10 years.
This means, at any given time, about 500,000 feature scripts are floating around. That's how I came up with that 500,000-to-1 number.

And don't forget - this calculation assumes that all movies are shot from feature scripts registered with WGA - not! There are a lot of books and stage plays that are made into blockbuster movies every year. Plus, there are those unregistered scripts that find their way into the pipeline. When you count those options too, your chances of selling a single script will really drop down to something like one in a million!

And even when you take your chances and send in your latest and best script it'll be treated only as a "business card." Instead of getting a check, you'll get the question: "What else you've got?" Script writer William Martell (who has 19 scripts made into movies) says you need to have at least 9 movies circulating around at any one time to expect to make a single sale.
So is it a wonder that most screen writers do it as a second job and as a work of love while they try to pay their bills by doing something else?

And that's precisely what I want to ask - if as a screen writer you're going to do something else anyways to pay your bills, why not try technical writing? There is a great demand for technical writers especially in large metropolitan areas with industry and commerce, and moreover, anybody can do it!
Just look at me - I did not even speak a single word of English until I was 13. But I earned a solid living for the last 10 years as a technical writer in the software industry. If I can do it, don't you think you can do it too?

Check out the facts:

According to the latest Society of Technical Communication salary survey, technical writers in the United States made an average of $60,850 in 2006.

The average salary went all the way up to $88,630 in San Jose, CA.

In Nevada, top 10% of technical writers made $114,950 in 2006. In New Hampshire, the top 10% earned $98,120.

Give it a thought. It might the best thing you'll ever do as a professional writer to support your self and your family while continuing to write your screenplays in the evenings and weekends. That way your astronomically low chances of making it to Hollywood won't hurt as much because you'd still be taking care of yourself and your family.

If you are interested to read more about what technical writing is all about and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com You might be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit today and claim your free report "How Much Do Technical Writers Make?"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci

Are You a Journalist? - How About a New Career in Technical Writing to Make Ends Meet?

Journalism is exciting but tough. I should know. I've been a journalist for 4 years in mid-90s. I loved every minute of it but had a hard time making ends meet. I was an NPC (National Press Club) member reporter accredited both with the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Congress. That was all fine and dandy but money-wise the picture always looked bleak. So I had to throw in the towel in 1998 to feed my family. I shifted to technical writing and never looked back since then.

I believe the situation got even worse since I left journalism. Back then the daily papers and periodicals were not in the trouble that they are in these days. Even industry leaders like the New York Times and Washington Post are suffering these days from declining advertisement revenues. The budgets are shrinking and it's becoming harder and harder to find a lucrative position in print journalism.

There are some opportunities in TV and radio but the Internet has really fragmented what was once a solid block of viewers and it's not going to get any better any time soon. There are many new channels through which consumers are getting their news these days and they are not limited to traditional TV or radio. Who would have thought ten years ago that Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show," a satire program, would end up as one of the highest rated "news programs" in the United States? There are many people who just watch the YouTube both for news and entertainment. Under such conditions to make a living as a traditional reporter and journalist is of course becoming a harder task than ever.

That's why perhaps you should consider technical writing like I did back in 1998. Consider the advantages of technical writing as compared to journalism:

Technical writers have a much easier time finding a job since documentation is a constant feature of globalization. Technical writers own their cars and homes; put food on the table every day; enjoy paid annual vacations, personal days, and sick days; have full medical (and usually dental and vision as well) coverage both for themselves and their loved ones; help their kids through college; enjoy all-expenses paid training opportunities; reap the benefits of a rewarding, challenging, professional career; feel the satisfaction of helping others live better and more organized lives; and retire with 401(k) plans, IRAs, and sometimes even Pension Plans (depending on the company).

So perhaps it's time to ask yourself - why not try technical writing? There is a great demand for technical writers especially in large metropolitan areas with industry and commerce, and moreover, anybody can do it!

Just look at me - I did not even speak a single word of English until I was 13. But I earned a solid living for the last 10 years as a technical writer in the software industry. If I can do it, don't you think you can do it too?
Give it a thought.

There is no reason why you shouldn't learn more about technical writing, even if you've never thought about it before. If you are ready to read more about what technical writing is all about and how it can help you earn a steady living, visit http://www.learntechnicalwriting.com and claim your free report "How Much Do Technical Writers Make?" You might be pleasantly surprised with what you'll find out. Join the thousands who are already helped and inspired by this information provided by a Fortune 500 Senior Technical Writer. Visit us now.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ugur_Akinci

Friday, January 2, 2009

Writing Tips- How to Create Powerful Headlines For Your Online Business Opportunity Article

By Juhani Tontti

So the job of the headline is to be a short ad of the article, to draw the readers attraction and to be search engine friendly, i.e. keyword optimized. This means that the writer must plan it before writing.

My opinion is that the headline for your legitimate online business article should be teasing, i.e. it should tell something, a little bit, from the content and to make your imagination to work. Additionally it should be according to your online business opportunity strategy building the brand.

When you plan your article about online home based business opportunity, you should actually plan all elements of the process at the same time, title, teaser, body, Bio Box and the job of the landing page. So the idea is not that the reader just reads the article but very obviously that he will click the link in the Bio Box.

The article and the landing page form a process, where every element has a specific job. In a way your online business opportunity article draws enthusiastic visitors to your landing page in a good state of mind, waiting for more useful things for them. In this process the article headline is the starting point, like a hook, which has a very special job to do.

If you think the headline of your online business opportunity standing alone in the long list of some article directory, you can easily imagine how demanding job it has. It has to separate itself, to be able to stand out from the crowd, or otherwise it does not work.

There are some small things, which work and are important for your online home business title. Numbers work well, especially odd numbers like 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11.

They give an impression that the article has a very researched content. I think this comes from the fact that people like to count and that they also like that the content is structured.
There are also some words and terms, which are proven successes in the title. Words like amazing, system, method, tested, excellent, for instance, work well. On the other hand, certain terms and words push the readers away, they are somehow threatening.

As you know, the online business opportunity marketing is driven by the keywords. Keywords are the terms with which people search information from the search engines and along which the search engines put the information into a certain order on their result pages.
So these keywords should be the writers’ friends too, because they will help both the readers and the search engines. Now the writer must pick one keyword, rather long tail one, for his article and for the title too.

This keyword, or search term, should be very describing, i.e. to tell the topic of the article. We can say that the more you use long tail search terms, which match your article topics, the better results you will get.

Your main keyword should be in the title, teaser, body and the Bio Box in a hyperlink. This Bio Box is very important, I would say second most important place in your article, because it works as an short text ad, which has to draw the reader to the landing page.

As said earlier, what the headline has started must go on the landing page, where you have to call the reader into action. But the headline must not promise anything the landing page cannot fulfill; otherwise you will get depressed visitors.

As a summary, if you think your headline like it would be a TV ad, a short 15 second TV spot and it has to promise something useful to the watcher, you understand the requirements of the title. However to create these titles is fun and very rewarding. And they will build your brand better than anything else.

Writing Tips-Improve Your Online Article Editing Skills For 2009

By Lance Winslow

One area I have to admit and hate to say that I have a weakness in when it comes to the written word is proof reading and editing. I often hear other writers say that, they should spend more time writing, but if they did they wouldn't be able to write as much. True enough and I myself use to say this all the time, it was the way I viewed things, thinking that 80% was good enough, let's start the next article; wrong answer.

Careful editing will make you a better writer as you train yourself not to make mistakes during the process and production of your articles. If you rush your editing you'll be sorry and you will miss mistakes too. In fact, any decent writer will tell you that it is best to look over what you've written twice and then allow someone else to read it also, it's amazing how easy it is to read over your own work and miss blatant errors.

I'd say about 80-90% of the online article authors rely on spell check as their proof reader, but believe me, that's not good enough, not if you are shooting for 99% quality and less than 1% mistake free. If you plan on making it in the online article business be sure to think Six Sigma when writing and editing.

Why isn't Spell Check any good you ask? Well, I did not say it isn't any good, it is plenty good, but it's not good enough, it's just one tool. You can easily use the wrong word in sentence, but the right spelling of the wrong word, spell check will not catch it and even the grammar check misses many things.

So, my weakness is editing, proof reading and perhaps to some degree spelling, which I am constantly improving, but I also know just because I am strong in volume and quantity, does not mean I cannot become more efficient. Remember inefficiency is evil, whether it is in government, business, water usage, energy or in my writing, business or personal life or yours for that matter. One should never stop improving.

Luckily, there are big rewards for the writer who constantly improves, the better you get the more you are needed and the better following you will have. Please consider this, it's pretty serious stuff.

Writing Print Articles VS Writing Online Articles - What Has More Readership?


By Lance Winslow

Many writers realize that when they write an article for the newspaper that more folks real read it right away, especially in larger markets. Of course, the shelf life is about one-day, as opposed to an online article being 24/7 for perhaps years. Still, newspapers get read a lot and even if the reader skips over your article, newspapers have large subscription numbers.

But, let's analyze this for a moment; print VS. online. For instance, I know the circulation of my articles in the Trade Journals ranges from 20,000 to 180,000 and not everyone is going to read every article, but I'd say 85% of the folks scan thru the magazines and read a good portion of the articles, it's my job to make a good article, so they come back and read the next one, and I hope to heaven that the person who writes the title, picks a good one, they do not always follow my suggestions in my submissions. Now with regards to readership.

At one of the top online article submission sites I have 7 million article views and 15,000 articles, and that is only 466 average article views per article. I'd say out of those 65% actually read the article, the rest click out, do not finish it, but hopefully some click to my website.

But, we cannot stop the stats there, because I also have 250,000 article pick-ups and that means I might have 200-400 articles views at each of those too, so, we have to figure in that as well. Plus the link-backs, I have lots of those as well (est. 500,000 plus).

So, if we take your 2,000 article views here and multiply that times 20 re-prints of that article and say 200 articles views on each on 100 articles, all of a sudden the number is no longer 2,000 it is 400,000 you see. We must not forget about that either. If you are a writer with a very good writing style, and can write articles with numbered lists and good information as well, then you can do both online and print and do well at both.

I have witnessed where article authors are bothered by quality issues and time constraints VS other types of writing gigs, I cannot blame them. I think this online article venue is a good bit about attaining targeted traffic. Then it's up to you the writer to turn the traffic or viewer into a customer of some type? Please think on this.