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Ask HN: Finding Technical Writers for Open Source Software

1 points by codegeek ↗ HN
I am starting an ambitious Open Source project (based on learning from my existing SAAS company) and looking to find Technical Writers who have experience with OSS and can really dig deep into technical topics and create content around them including posts, wikis, documentation, short videos etc (plus). Where do you find such people usually other than your network ? Is there a "Find a technical writer" website ?

4 comments

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OhMeadhbh
so... you want to build a commercial service from a FLOSS project but don't want to pay people. seems on brand.

or I guess you want to "pay them with experience and exposure." are you sure you're not in the music industry?

codegeek
Sorry what ? Where did I say I don't want to pay. I will be glad to pay if it wasn't clear.
OhMeadhbh
cool! most people don't want to pay scale for writers. indeed, LinkedIn, fivrr all have tech writers. monster.com might also still have some users. I usually shake down my personal network for FoaFs and friends of friend of friends. so don't underestimate an email blast to friends.

also, consider people whose last job wasn't writing, but have tech writing in their background. most of the ACS systems will screen them out, so I think you have to explicitly tell the ACS company gatekeepers them you're okay with people who might have done a stint in QA but want to get back to writing.

verdverm
People tend to do it themselves until their community grows and they can draw from a pool of people who love their project. The creator is in the best position to explain, document, and advocate for the project in the early stages.