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You can sign up for free at http://www.techwritertoolkit.com/
Each Tuesday The Tech Writer Tool Kit will be delivered to your inbox. It will provide you with the tools necessary for success.
You will learn a lot about technical writing plus you’ll also learn how to market yourself more effectively.
You’ll learn about:
Websites where you can market your services
Setting up your own website and attracting clients. This strategy alone can give you a never ending list of customers.
Writing a simple sales letter to businesses to market your services
You’ll learn why technical writing is such a lucrative field to get into. And with the internet revolution there are a lot of opportunities for technical writers.
And much more…
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Bryan S. Adar
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12 comments:
I'm interested in becoming a technical writer. The newsletter makes me think I've got alot of the skills I need already.
I'm thinking about the training offered, but I'd like to know some more about your organization. There's info on Bryan Adar and Bill Moore but nothing of Brian Robertson. Also, how many are on your staff?
I liked the first exercise. I did pretty well, but it showed me that I've got a lot to learn.
Thanks,
Donna
Donna,
Thanks for the comment and welcome to the wonderful world of tech writing.
First, I'll clear up why there's nothing about Brian Robertson in the newsletter. Brian is no more. That was a pen name Bryan used at one time, and it showed up where it should have said Bryan S. Adar.
Our organization is small but growing. It was Bryan's idea originally. He shared it with me, so we're the core staff. We work with other writers, trainers, and SMEs as necessary.
Glad you like the exercise. There'll be one a week to test your skills.
Bill
Hi again, Donna.
I see my reply to your comment is headed "donna said." Don't know how that happened. Hit the wrong button or something.
Anyway, this should say "Bill said."
Bill
I need to train and motivate my assistant at a distance. I'm working in England, she in India. She's got an unusual encapsulation ability, but finds sustained writing more difficult.
I liked Bill's 'toast' exercise. I will use it on her to get started!
I'm curious as to what type of writing you and your assistant do that calls for encapsulation ability and sustained writing.
Would you mind telling me?
Bill
I've been asked by a company to write a technical document over 500 pages for both print and online help. But in order to be chosen for the project I need to submit a bid. I've never bidded on a contract, because I've always gone through an agency. I'm going through an agency for this project as well, however it's up to me to write the bid proposal. I don't know where to begin. Is a bid the same thing a SOW? What information do I need from the client to put this together? TotallyLost
Dear Ms Wryter,
Welcome to the club.
You've asked one of the most frequently asked question and one for which there's no easy answer.
But, I'll give it a try. No, it’s not part of the SOW. At the start of work meeting, we've already got the job. You're starting a bit before that. Essentially, you're answering an RFQ or RFP. (Check out What's the Good Word in Issues #5 & #6 in the Tech Writer Tool Kit newsletter.)
Regardless of how simple or involved the proposal ends up being, what it all has to come down to is the question, "How much do I want to make per hour, net?" That's a figure you have to arrive at based on your own expectations as a business person. The client may never see that figure, but it's the basis for all bids. The problem is that that figure can change depending on a lot of things. What does the market pay? How qualified am I? How badly do I want this job? are only a few.
Next, based on your best estimate, you need to figure how long the job is going to take in hours (then add 10%). The number of hours multiplied by your hourly rate is the basis for your bid. Of course, it’s never that simple.
Then, you have to take in the CODB factor. What is the cost of doing the business? Is there travel? New software? Printing? Proofing? Do you pay the costs out of your net or do you roll them into the bid?
And what about the agency's fee? Does that come out of your net or get rolled into the bid?
I know this isn't the simple, straight-forward answer you want, but this is one of the toughest parts of being a freelancer.
Let's look at it with numbers.
You say it's a 500 page book. If the client provides all the information, and you don't need to do much research, we'll say that you can turn out 1 page of finished copy a day. Working an 8-hour day, that's 4,000 hours. If your net rate per hour is $50, you've got a basic number of $200,000.
Sound a bit high? OK, let's say that you want the job really badly, and you're willing to work for $20 an hour. That $160 a day. That's still $80,000. Still too high? Then think of it this way; if you can do a page a day, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, you're turning out 5 pages a week. 500 pages will take 100 weeks. That's almost 2 years -- for about $38,000 a year of full-time work.
You can play with the numbers. Plug in whatever hourly rate, hours a week, and the amount of finished copy you can produce. Then do the math.
Oh, yeah, maybe the client hasn’t got 2 years. Maybe it has to be done in 6 months. Now you need to decide whether you can even do a job this big in the time the client will allow. Maybe one person can't do it within the time and budget. This may call for a collaboration.
However you work the numbers, and whether you do it alone or with somebody, the basis for any bid is still: How much is my hourly rate? Until you decide on that, you’ve got nothing to build the bid on.
(If you come across an easier way, please let me know.)
Good luck.
Bill
Thank you, Bill for providing a lengthy reply to my question about the 500 pp document. I really appreciate you taking the time to provide me with such detail. I submitted my bid, however in light of what you said I think I under bid. I wish I knew about the RFP before I drew up my bid. I think that's a document the client should have provided to my recruiting agency, however they never mentioned it. But that's a lesson learned. I'm more informed now for future projects that request a bid proposal.
Thank you once again. I bumped into your website by accident and have found it to be a gold mine. Even though I am a seasoned tech writer, it's always good to get a refresher. Your site would have been such a valuable resource to me when I was first starting out. Very informative. I hope you continue to provide the information.
Hi. Are you still doing a course in technical writing? How much would it cost? Is there an installment payment plan?
Thanks.
Dear Celinamac, Our tech writing course is ready and will be launched this Tuesday.
It normally costs $299. But for one day only you can get it for $199. This discount is only available to TWTK subscribers starting Tuesday for 24 hours.
We don't have an installment plan but the course does come with a 3 month money back guarantee.
Bryan S. Adar
Dear Celinamac,
We now have an easy installment plan for the course. You only pay $47 per month for five months. This includes shipping and handling.
You'll get the full course when you make your first installment payment.
Go to:
http://www.techwritingcourse.com/protech_order_page.html
Click the Pay by Int
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