After an extensive career writing software and IT documentation, I decided to seek an audience who would actually read what I wrote. Who reads the instructions? These days, I’m a news writer for Jalopnik. Before that, I spent several years writing for several other automotive websites, including The Drive, Autotrader, and Right Foot Down.
I also expanded into motorcycles, first as a daily news writer and then as the weekend editor at RideApart. I also occasionally wrote occasionally for ADV Pulse and ATV.com. I wrote for ADVRider for several years and would like to pick that back up again sometime, but I’ve had to put that on the back burner as other work has taken over my life.
I’ve also started writing regularly for Adventure Rider magazine. It’s nice to see my name in print rather than on a screen. Much of my previous online work has already been erased, and it’s much harder to do that with a print publication. So far, I’ve written articles about taking the wrong bike (a slow Kawasaki KLR650 dual-sport) to a track day, useful apps to help save money on the road, and what it’s like combining van life with motorcycle adventures. I already have more stories in the works for future issues.
My background in technical writing, plus my car experience, led to my work with FIXD, an onboard diagnostic scanner manufacturer. My specialty is in taking complex concepts and breaking them down into terms the average reader can understand. I put this to great use at FIXD, with the bulk of my work being documenting diagnostic trouble codes. I would take the “P0303” that the scanner gives you and explain that it is a misfire in cylinder three, the most likely causes, and how to troubleshoot and repair the problem. I also wrote articles about the cost and how to perform more general repairs, whether they were associated with a trouble code or not.
I take on freelance writing work as well. Though uncredited, most of the description of the Tick Performance Level 4 Magnum TR-6060 transmission for the 1998-2002 Camaro and Firebird is my work. My experience as a technical writer in a previous career served me well in helping translate some sophisticated concepts into terms that are easy for the average reader and potential customer to understand.
Although I do a fair bit of editing these days, I’ve always considered myself more of a writer. I am always open to additional writing opportunities, either on a regular basis or for one-off projects for print or online. Rates are negotiable, but I use the Editorial Freelancers Association rates as a guide.
