Author: William Meikle

A lot of beginners go off the rails when they’ve got a nice clean sheet of paper or a blank screen in front of them and they’ve got to fill it with words – meaningful words.

The way to avoid the cold feeling of panic is to have a plan of action. The type of plan that works best for you depends on your personality. Some of you will make structured lists, with every small detail itemized and all T’s crossed. Or you may have a vague set of instructions, sometimes little more than remembering to have a beginning, middle and end. Others of you will find that the best way to work is just to start writing and see where it takes you.

The way to find what will work for you is to plan out some example pieces of work. You might never write them, but the practice will benefit you. For example, how would you go about writing an episode of your favourite TV show, or an article on a local photography exhibition, or a review of a best-seller? By writing a plan of approach, you’ll give yourself an idea of what the final piece of work would require. When I started writing short stories I used to deconstruct famous stories and plan how I’d re-write them.

The planning step also gives you a check as to whether or not you actually want to write the piece. And remember, if you plan not to have a plan, you’ve still decided on a plan. And don’t stop here.

It’s now time to plan your opening sentence. To get readers to keep reading you need a hook, something that will lead them in and keep them there until you’ve told them what they didn’t know they needed to know. Crime writers kill people, romance novelists have people get divorced, good writers hint at a conflict to come but hide it in the middle of something else. Journalists scream at you in huge type and article writers ask you rhetorical questions, all in the first five seconds of reading.

Go away and study the structure of some writing. Look at how writers grab you and reel you in like an expert fisherman.

And ask yourself, “How would I do that?”

Source: http://www.articlecircle.com/ – Free Articles Directory

About the Author:

William Meikle is currently planning his ninth novel. Read more articles at his website at http://www.williammeikle.com

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: James Hunt

The technical writing process consists of four main phases. These are planning, writing, delivery, archiving. These phases are not necessarily set in stone and some variations do exist. Every writer is different and they each have their own way of writing that is distinct. For those who are just beginning to do some technical writing however would be well advised to use these phases as a way of organizing their writing.

The planning stage of technical writing consists of gathering information. In this stage of the technical writing process you will determine which documents and other information that you will use for your writing. This is also where you will determine how the documentation will be delivered to the customer. In this stage you can also create any templates that are needed.

The writing phase in technical writing is where you write your documents. This is where you should also make a list of glossary of terms as you write. This can be left to the end but it always easier to do this as you go along. When the writing is complete you should always take the time to read over your material and correct any mistakes that you can detect. The most common mistakes are spelling errors. Someone else could find the harder to detect grammatical errors that you let read your writing. This of course is a good idea. You should always have someone else read your writing to pick up on any mistakes that you may overlook.

The third stage of the technical writing process is called the delivery phase. This is the method by which you will present your writing to others. This may be done through text form. Today, with the increasing use of computers people are deciding to save their writing on CD or floppy disk and sell the writing in this format. Today people are just as will to buy a CD than they are a book. Printed materials should always be presented well. This should be done in a binder or folder of some sort. The material should be organized and it is a good idea to use tabs to separate sections so that people will make it easier to read.

The fourth and final stage of the technical writing process is the archiving phase. This includes naming the document and putting the archive number on the document. If you work for a company then your company may have their own way of archiving documents and you could use this system. Once this is all complete you are done.

About the Author:
James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at www.technical-writing-central.info

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Process of Technical Writing