How do I get involved in consulting?

I would like to do technical writing in addition to my duties as a technician.

Actually, I'd love to do consulting / tech writing / technician work on the side. I wish I had some ideas. Sorry.

Anyone else got any ideas?

I am a person who gets really tired of working with the same company after about a year. Things just seem to get stale and don't progress at the speed I like.
I decided to get out on my own a be a consultant /contractor for companies in need of IT support that don't want the overhead of a house full of certed staff.
I also run a fairly successful business working with new bands and artists that wish to get signed by labels and enter new markets but even that gets boring sometimes.
I decided to be a web designer at first due to the frantic pace at which the industry was growing, so, I quit my day job, saw my brother (corporate lawyer, VERY IMPORTANT!) drew up a business plan and started marketing myself to companies. At first I volounteered to build sites for friends who had their own business just to build a portfolio, after a few paying jobs, I was on route to my goal of independance.
I now do just about anything on a freelance or contract basis for various companies and now find myself turning down work due to all of all the companies that don't want to hire IT staff.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Build a startup, one, and five year business plan. Get a GOOD corporate lawyer to ensure that there are no legal implications (company name, logo etc.) and focus on a single task to begin. After that, it all just falls into place. The hard part is what deters MOST people who are capable of starting their own business, stepping away from the comfort zone. It is easy to find a comfort zone, where your bills are taken care of and your living expenses are handled with a steady paycheck. It is hard and sometimes pretty scary to throw that away for your own endeavors. I believe that ANYONE who has the drive and determination to do something, will succeed, no matter what. With the MASSIVE demand for people in the IT industry, I'm sure you will have no problems.

You can contact recruiting companies as well. Most of the positions are usually on a full time hourly basis, but many do get requirements in from clients that are different shifts or part time. It is a good way to start for some.

Consulting is all about make all involved happy and satisfied! Its an art!!
Well there are best practices & methodlogies that help you be a "Better" consultant but it has to come from within.
All companies engage in consulting of some kind or other - their own products,their partners products or products they want to use/deploy (using the term products rather loosley here!). If you can identify the opportunity, pitch in,add value - you are miles ahead!
- Hashim

Look for training comapnies in your area and offer your moonlighting services to them. Other options you have are with other companies you office has relationships with. Pursuing that without managers finding out could get hairy though...