Author: Michael Lee

A technical writer’s work isn’t exactly among the top ten most exciting jobs in the world, but it doesn’t mean that it’s all work and no play all the time. In fact, the best technical writing fields are usually those that are fun to write.

If you have a passion for writing and are looking for the best technical writing fields, your search has ended. This article contains the top three that have high scores both in the profit meter and fun meter!

1) Gizmos and Gadgets

One of the best technical writing fields today is that of gadgets. After all, we are in an age when almost everybody wants to know what the next model of Nokia or the next generation of iPods looks like. Technology is now considered sexy.

As a technical writer for gadgets, this frenzy is to your advantage. Reviews on the latest model of mini laptops are most definitely welcome. Articles comparing different brands of mobile phones are eagerly eaten up by the techno-savvy crowd. And don’t pretend like you don’t enjoy being a gadget guru either!

2) Cars and Bikes

There’s just something about a shiny new car or bike that gets people’s hearts racing. This is a more specialized area of writing though and is less commonly found on the Internet compared to the field mentioned above.

However, there are magazines you can apply which specialize in such topics. Automobile shows, for example, also give you something to look forward to. As a technical writer, you are invited to these events regularly. You also get to see some of the rarest, fastest and most innovatively designed cars and bikes in your area.

3) Computer Software

Computer software is also one of the best technical writing fields today. People have a constant need to upgrade their programs, and large and small companies are always ready to give them options.

As a technical writer, you get to sample these programs and review them either for a blog, Web site or magazine. You can even be assigned to create a how-to manual necessary for every computer software that comes out.

There are a lot of opportunities for technical writers to earn money in this day and age. Indeed, the best technical writing fields are often those that are most fun.

About the Author:

If you want to easily earn $10,000 or more every single month through freelance writing jobs, then go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com/5figurewriter.htm and discover the secrets to earn massive amounts of money continuously… even if you’re not a gifted writer. You can also make money blogging on your spare time!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Best Technical Writing Fields: Writing Your Way To Fun And Money

Author: Brian Scott

If you have specialized knowledge other than how to be a great writer, then technical writing may be for you.

Technical writing combines your writing talent with a specific area of expertise, such as IT, graphic design, education, engineering, the automotive industry, etc. You could be writing for others who are already familiar with the field, or you could be writing to teach others.

How much does technical writing pay?

Technical writing freelancers often get paid very well, anywhere from $40 to $100 per hour or more. Technical writers command a higher rate of pay because it takes much more than polished writing skills to do the job.

Where can I find technical writing jobs?

The Internet is the ideal resource, especially if you’re just getting started. Check out websites like computerjobs.com, IFreelance.com, or rentacoder.com. These sites offer many postings by companies seeking freelance technical writers in a variety of industries.

I also recommend you post your resume on an employment site like CareerBuilder.com or Workopolis.com. Because you have a specialized skill set, know that there will be people actively looking for you. Having your resume on this type of website will greatly increase your chances of getting a well-paid technical writing gig.

Another technique is to do some brainstorming. Ask yourself if you have a specialized skill set or knowledge base. If so, what companies are in your area that could use a writer with skills like yours? Contact those businesses directly with your resume and a letter explaining how difficult it can be to find a good technical writer and that you’re available to help with any upcoming projects they may have.

What type of work will I be doing?

In IT, technical writers are often creating software or hardware manuals from scratch, or writing about coding. In the education field, you may be writing textbooks or creating PowerPoint slides for online learning programs. You could also be writing assembly manuals for machines, preparing reports for a pharmaceutical company, or creating do-it-yourself manuals for home repairs, etc.

In any technical writing job, you’ll need to have good writing and communication skills on top of your area of expertise. Technical writing projects are often collaborative, meaning you’ll have to deal with other people and complete the project as a team. Even if you’re working alone, your client will want to know how you’re progressing and whether you’re on track with what he or she is looking for. Expect lots of communication, either over the Internet or by phone.

How do I properly respond to an ad for a technical writer?

To maximize your chances of success, your response should include:

• A note about how valuable you feel the company is
• A summary of your qualifications in the field of expertise
• An overview of your superior writing ability
• Any related experience you may have

This response could be in a cover letter accompanying your resume or in your bid on a freelancing website. Read the sample ad below to see if you could make a compelling candidate:

We are an online learning company specializing in business skills. We teach administrators, HR people, etc. to effectively coach employees and streamline day-to-day business. We design online courses and downloadable presentations. We need a writer to help us with our upcoming courses for next year.

In order to make maximum impact, your response needs to hit each of the four points above. For example, you might respond like so:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’ve taken a look at your website and I must say that your material is very impressive! It’s clear that you provide a lot of value to the businesses that use your services, and I would welcome the opportunity to join your team.

I hold a Bachelor of Commerce with a Human Resources designation. Throughout my education I designed various studies of employee behavior. Recently, I’ve been working as a consultant helping companies optimize employee productivity. I believe my skills may be of benefit to your company.

In addition, I am an accomplished writer. I have written articles, reports, and web content. My clients are always pleased with my work because it is grammatically flawless, concise, and easily accessible to readers.

Thank you for considering me for this position.

Sincerely, (name)

That’s it! Just remember that you have a unique combination of highly sought-after skills, and you’ll have your first technical writing job in no time.

About the Author:
Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance technical writing jobs at Online Writing Jobs ( http://www.online-writing-jobs.com ), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – All About Freelance Technical Writing Jobs

Author: Tom Aaron

Writing is an art that demands writers master many different skills. Editing writing, correcting grammar, and using rich punctuation are some of these skills. Punctuation may be the least respected skill. Were Rodney Dangerfield to write of punctuation, he might say, “Punctuation is like me. It don’t get no respect.” When we think of punctuation, we may only think of punctuation marks, but punctuation is much more. Anything used in written language that is not a letter or number is punctuation. This means punctuation marks, spaces between words, and indentation are all part of punctuation. If we turn to Wikipedia, we can find a definition of punctuation. Wikipedia says, “Punctuation marks are symbols that correspond to neither phonemes (sounds) of a language nor to lexemes (words and phrases), but which serve to indicate the structure and organization of writing, as well as intonation and pauses to be observed when reading it aloud.”

We enrich our punctuation the same way we improve our writing. The above paragraph is the first version of a rough draft. Let’s edit it and see how we can improve the punctuation.

The art of writing demands writers master many different skills including editing, correcting grammar, and enriching punctuation. Punctuation may be the least respected skill. Were Rodney Dangerfield to write of punctuation, he might say: “Punctuation is like me. It don’t get no respect.” Punctuation goes beyond punctuation marks; anything in written language outside of letters and numbers is punctuation.

Punctuation marks, spaces between words, and indentation are all punctuation. Wikipedia defines punctuation: “Punctuation marks are symbols that correspond to neither phonemes (sounds) of a language nor to lexemes (words and phrases), but which serve to indicate the structure and organization of writing, as well as intonation and pauses to be observed when reading it aloud.”

Let’s look at two differences between the first and second versions.

1. The number of paragraphs

The first version had one long paragraph, which became two paragraphs in the second version. Paragraphing is part of punctuation. A paragraph can be as short as one sentence or as long as several pages. A one-sentence paragraph, however, is unusual outside dialogue. Longer paragraphs are hard on readers. Breaking a long paragraph into two or more smaller paragraphs makes reading easier.

2. Variety in punctuation marks

The first version used only periods and commas; the second version added colons and semicolons. Punctuational variety enriches the writing. Many people use an extremely limited repertoire of punctuation marks: periods and commas. Use variety in punctuation marks to differentiate your writing from everyday writing without this rich variety.

We would also like to show additional ways to use punctuation:

1. Colons can emphasize contrast.

We waited all day for Godot to show up: He never arrived.

2. Ellipsis emphasize that there is more.

We ate apple bars with whipped cream, lemon bars with nuts, marshmallow bars, meltaway chocolate bars….

Improving your punctuation is fairly easy; remember the colon and the semicolon. When you read, notice the punctuation. See how you can add ellipsis, exclamation points, dashes, and more. Observe, learn and improve your writing.

Still, we don’t want you to overwhelm your readers with punctuation. Thinking of punctuation as a piece of chocolate cake might help. One piece of chocolate cake may taste like heaven; two pieces may just be too much heaven. Using exclamation points, dashes, and ellipses too often may overwhelm your readers and begin to interfere with their reading of your writing.

About the Author:

This article is from Aaron Language Services at
http://www.aaronlanguage.com/
We provide English writing services to a primarily Japanese clientele. If you are an experienced editor, specializing in medicine or the hard sciences, please contact us via personnel on the menu on the left side of our top page.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Enrich your punctuation and improve your writing

You’re right, I don’t work in an office, I work from home. But I did work in an office and there was often something that kept me at work when I no longer needed to be there. And even at home, there are things that keep me at my desk when I’d rather be outside on a lawn chair.

I just read the latest post on Zen Habits (a guest post from Alexandra Levit) and it meshed pretty well with an article on Lifehacker from last week, so I thought I’d post a short summary of the two articles.

1. Get stuff done. Yeah, easier said than done, I know. But you can “nip procrastination in the bud” by “working in dashes” and “remind[ing] your future self.
   • Break larger tasks into smaller ones.
   • Complete smaller (easier) parts of the task to make the overall task more manageable.
   • Set a timer and work on a specific task for a specific period.
   • Set a reminder to spend time working on tasks that aren’t due until some time in the future.
2. Use productivity tools. Learn tricks for making Google searches better, use shortcut keys (Microsoft’s or Apple’s), or Google Docs or Google Calendar.
3. Doable to-do lists. ‘Nuff said.

There you have it. Three solid [summarized] ways to get stuff done. You really need to take a look at the articles and click through some of the links to really get an idea of tools that are out there to help you do this. I know I need it!