Did you ever give technical writing any consideration? These days, the emphasis seems to be more on software skills with the likes of Quark and Pagemaker frequently mentioned, and more exoctic aps like RoboHelp also in demand. If I were a HR type (perish the thought!) I'd give tech writer applicants a writing test and worry about the software later.

You can always write fiction by moonlight - uh oh, sounds like preaching - and blah blah blah, but the point I'm trying to make is that your kind of writing skill is almost to good to waste on fiction, If you'll pardon me saying so.

Reality is so much more interesting, and we need people who are good at explaining aspects of it to others. Writers, in other words, who have one foot in both worlds, art and science (or technology).

It's illuminating to recall that technical advances in the world of art - especially perspective drawing - played a significant role in the artistic and cultural flowering which was the Renaissance. Art historian David Hockney argues that the Old Masters also had other technological tricks on their taborets, and there in fact may be some truth to the old saw that it's all done with mirrors.

Art & Science, Ars et Scientia.

I'll conclude this rambling with a tip of the hat for that. I slept through too many Latin classes as a youth. What stuck was merely osmosis, and even cognates are sometimes a surprise.

But Ars et Scientia is an excellent mantra and tagline. It may find a place on my website.

This is an excellent topic for discussion and I hope we can continue it.

sp