The disconnect between the hiring organization and the tech writer is further exacerbated, when the writer comes in through a middleman. While it's a win-win situation for all parties when an unemployed writer gets a task quickly through a staffing firm. The only downside is the communication gap that occurs. As a writer, I've seen it all. I've had to learn new technologies, statistical concepts, pharmaceutical dictionaries on the fly. Did I know these were the specific requirements of the job? No. I bent over backward to learn and perform AND deliver on time. All that towards what end? The hiring party looks at the money they're paying the staffing firm without looking at the progress made by the writer. They get another writer and repeat the vicious cycle. That's when things go south. It's just bad karma--all around. Let's break the cycle. Let's stick with a writer; learn to look past the mistakes; invest in technology training. Forget the money you paid the staffing firm; it's a sunk cost anyway. (Just a few thoughts from a disillusioned technical writer.)