Guide to Finding Jobs as a Freelance Technical Writer

The User's Manual for your brand new microwave; the catalog descriptions for various electronics; the tutorials for websites and software programs -- all of these things are written by technical writers, many of whom are freelancers. While we don't normally think about the person who writes these informative guides, there is an enormous demand for freelance technical writers in our current marketplace.

Employers are consistently having trouble finding freelance technical writers because the job can be -- what's the word I'm looking for? -- boring! Typing out sentences like, Please remember not to put anything made of metal in your new microwave can challenge even the most tolerant of minds. But if you are just starting out in the freelance writing world or if you find yourself without consistent work, freelance technical writing pays up to 50% more than straight copywriting.

The other good news is that you don't have to be an expert in a particular industry to be a freelance technical writer. A writer who doesn't know the complex inner workings of the microwave mentioned above can write a User's Manual that speaks to the common layman; in other words, regular people will understand it. Further, most of the information a technical writer needs in order to do his or her job is provided by the employer. All you have to do is put it in a cohesive format for publication.

If the idea of making more money as a technical freelance writer appeals to you, check out some of these methods for finding jobs.