If you are considering a career in technical writing and editing, here are some online resources to get you started:
ZDnet.com and CNET.com These sites offer a wealth of high-tech materials including product information, industry news, how-to articles, and e-mail newsletters on various topics. Both also have articles on careers and, through techies.com, a job-search function.
Webmonkey.com This Web site has feature articles, reference materials, a newsletter, and an e-mail list mostly dealing with Web topics. It also has free, well-regarded online tutorials in HTML, Photoshop, JavaScript, and other skills.
HTML Writers Guild The HTML Writers Guild is a large membership organization; the site has Web and HTML news, e-mail lists (including one for beginners), and many links to resources such as publications, online HTML reference works, and the business of being an HTML professional. The organization offers online classes for under $100.
American Medical Writers Association This association Web site gives information on membership, conferences, and publications covering such topics as "Anatomy and Physiology for Poets." Members can list themselves in a directory of freelance writers.
National Association of Science Writers This Web site has information on useful publications, advice on getting started as a science writer, and an application for membership. Membership benefits include a newsletter, conference, and access to local chapter activities.
Society for Technical Communication The Web site has information on membership and publications, links to chapter sites, job postings, and an annual salary survey usefully broken down by ZIP code.
IEEE Professional Communication Society This technical-communication society is a division of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The Web site has a bulletin board, newsletters, membership and conference information.
International Association of Business Communicators IABC is not strictly a technical-communication group, but there is overlap, particularly in the area of business-to-business technical proposals and reports. The Web site has membership information, links to chapter Web sites, and an "Ask the Experts" feature.
TECHWR-L This e-mail list is for discussion of technical-communication issues and has a fairly high volume of about 100 posts a day, including job ads. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to lyris@lists.raycomm.com and in the body of the e-mail type SUBSCRIBE TECHWR-L yourfirstname yourlastname.
