Combining science writing and technical consulting: A satisfying career choice

CHAL 10

John K. Borchardt, jkborchardt@aol.com, Southhaven Communications, 8010 Vista del Sol Drive, Houston, TX 77083-5039
My writing career has evolved continuously since I began writing trade magazine articles in 1987 due to changes in the publishing industry and my transition from being a part-time to a full-time writer/consultant. I will describe these changes, the current publishing climate for science articles and what is required for getting articles published in magazines, newspapers and online (and being paid for them!).

Since I began writing full-time in 2004, I have combined writing science articles with technical writing for companies in the chemical, oil, pharmaceutical and software industries. This corporate writing involves analysis of technology and business competition. In addition, I write research reports for companies whose research scientists and engineers are too busy or no longer available to do so.