10 Hottest Homebased Businesses For 2000

Have you ever found yourself putting together a bookshelf or installing software and getting frustrated because the directions included in the box are only confusing you? If you've ever felt like you could do a better job of writing the instructions, there may be a future in technical writing for you.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for technical writers is expected to increase because of the continuing explosion of scientific and technical information and the need to communicate it to others.

The Society for Technical Communication (STC), the world's largest professional technical communication organization, has several indicators that point to growth in the profession of technical communication. One is the membership of the STC itself, which has grown by 73 percent during the past 10 years. Also, only 50 schools had technical communication courses in 1986; that number had grown to more then 160 by 1996.

One major change that's contributed to the increased demand is the growth of the Internet. With more companies involved in online activities, technical writers are needed to write technical content for Web sites and instructional and promotional materials for Web-related technology and tools.

To succeed as a tech writer, you'll need a good base in the popular tools being used such as FrameMaker and RoboHELP, and a thorough understanding of how people want the information delivered. If you don't have a technical writing background, you may want to consider taking a class at your local college. Start-up costs range from $2,500 to $10,000, which includes a computer, printer, fax machine, office furniture and marketing budget.

"I work with cutting-edge tools, and I write about really interesting products," says Deborah Sauer, a homebased technical writer with more than 20 years of experience in the technical communication field, who finds work through placement agencies, networking and word-of-mouth. "With the business climate the way it is, there's a lot of work. It seems like I never have nothing to do. If you're thinking of getting into this right now, there's a lot of work out there for you. It's a very exciting time to be involved in this profession."-Lori Francisco

For More Information

Society for Technical Communication
901 N. Stuart St., #904
Arlington, VA 22203-1822
(703) 522-4114
www.stc-va.org

Untechnical Writing: How to Write About Technical Subjects and Products So Anyone Can Understand
By Michael Bremer
Untechnical PR, $14.95

The Tech Writing Game: A Comprehensive Career Guide for Aspiring Technical Writers
By Janet Van Wicklen
Checkmark Books, $22.95