I spent today writing and shopping and driving. Not that much writing, a little shopping, and a lot of driving. I ended up having to go out to Elk Grove Village to talk to these people who want to redo their technical documentation. I then had to go downtown to pick up something I'd special-ordered at Field's (yes, I know I said that only old ladies shop at Field's downtown, but, well, that doesn't mean I don't go there).
They were an interesting group of people. They offered me the option of working as an independent contractor or as a regular employee, and showed me more of the sort of thing they're working on. Detailed documentation for these special-purpose digital controls. Apparently they use these things in all sorts of computer-controlled manufacturing and robotics uses, and they want to redo the documentation to be consistent. They've bought up several smaller companies and their product lines in recent years, and the manuals are all over the place and in every possible format and look.
I liked the people I talked to. It wasn't an "interview," at least not that I thought so. It seems as though they're already set on having me do this. Today was more to discuss how, and to confirm that I'm going to do it.
I'd thought enough about it in the last week that I told them, yes, I was interested in doing it and from then on, it was just a matter of working out logistical things, like how often I should be there versus how much time I could write at home or over the modem. Initially, I think I'll be spending quite a bit of time out there, since I want to talk to the people who make and use and design these things and understand what they are and why they work. There's no substitute for seeing and talking to someone about things like that. I have to say, when I've done articles based on an interview I did over the phone, they never turned out quite the same as the ones where I could or did interview someone in person.
I'm not worried about the money, but they offered me a pretty good rate (if I was independent and having to pay my own benefits, which I do now) or salary (if I become an employee). I don't see any good reason to work as an indy on this. After a year or two years or however long this project takes, I can always go back to writing about the Cub Scouts in Waukegan.
Fargo is much better today. Well enough to knock a box of corn flakes off the counter and out into the middle of the floor. I came home and he was sleeping on a big pile of them. He's a total kitten.