Category Archives: consulting

Friend, Foe, or Both? Life in the Government Contracting World

One thing that struck me as curious when I started working for a defense contractor was how other companies could be competitors on some proposals and partner (prime or sub) contractors on others. I’ll try to explain why this happens … Continue reading

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Scope Creep and the Technical Writer

At the suggestion of my friend Susan, today I’ll be taking on the topic of scope creep. Most of the time, this is an engineering issue, such as when a NASA mission or piece of hardware starts out with one … Continue reading

Posted in business writing, clients, consulting, engineering, freelancing, reader response, technical writing, workplace | 3 Comments

Freelance Starter Kit: What You Need to Thrive & Survive

Occasionally someone will say something to me like, “I don’t know how you do it [freelancing]. I wouldn’t know where to begin.” Lucky you: today I’ll take some time to explain just that. The good news is that it’s easier … Continue reading

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How Do I Do My Accounting? It Depends on What You Mean

This past week, a friend who is just starting out in freelance writing asked me, “How do you do your accounting?” I realized that the answer was not quite as straightforward as I might have liked. Therefore, you (and my … Continue reading

Posted in consulting, freelancing, management, personal, Technology | 2 Comments

Down Sides of Freelancing

Full-time jobs usually have a primary virtue not found in the freelance world: consistency of working hours and pay. In a word, security. Freelancing? Not so much. Is freelancing for you? Here are some thoughts for you as you weigh … Continue reading

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