Technical Writing Career Advice?

[Wapsie B]

I realize that much of this group is focused on creative writing. But I've been looking to making a career switch into Technical Writing, specifically Medical Writing. I've found that the writing I've done with my job is the one aspect of my work I really enjoy. Is there a good way to enter the field? I've had college courses in this area as well as experience writing manuals, media presentations, and newspaper articles to name a few things.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. My brother in law did this until some months ago

not medical but manual writing

After he was let go from his last job he found the field to be pretty dry... take taht for what is worth'

He is switching careers to teaching

[Wapsie B]

2. Thanks for the reply.

I've found most fields to have their degrees of blandness and be downright boring at times.

[sybylla]

3. Perhaps by dry, the poster meant not a lot of work

That's been my experience as a Technical writer. I have my own company and have found that very few companies are willing to pay for TW services to augment the projects we do. They won't pay for top-notch manuals and user guides. The money is usually tight for all their projects so manuals and user guides get lopped off the final product.

So I've actually been looking for work outside my usual business to agument my income. I haven't been exceedingly successful.

The only tips I can give you are for freelancing: build a portfolio and get letters of recommendation from your customers. I did web copy for a technical business in 2004 & 2005 and now that it's time to get a reference, all the people I had worked closely with are gone.

[Wapsie B]

4. Oh yeah I understand.

I've heard about how companies won't want first-rate manuals and rush to get a product to market without good documentation. Freelance would scare me quite honestly. But I've been looking at the Medical Technical Writing area, seeings how that's the area I'm familiar with. I would think there are companies out there with staffs of writers, whether it be for technical writing or media marketing.