What to Expect when Working with a Writer
Whether you’re an author looking for a collaborator, a business looking for a brand communicator, or a ministry looking to reach hearts, working with words can be a vulnerable process. But knowing what to expect alleviates some of the pressure and help you work efficiently with the writers in your life.
A seasoned writer and editor, I work with a variety of clients—from publishing houses and literary magazines, marketing agencies and blogs, to nonprofits and curriculum creators. And like any quality service, a good writer will customize their process to accommodate your needs but there are a few things you should know to ensure a smooth, creative process and a quality product.
1. No two writers are the same. Like musicians, every writer and editor has strengths and weaknesses, and a unique style. We might have specific training in one technique or we might specialize in a particular genre. What is easy for one writer is a challenge for another. Professional writers will have the chops to handle just about anything but don’t stress if you don’t match perfectly with each other. Say thanks, and move on to the right fit.
2. Know what you want. I’ve worked with multiple clients who ask for “some polishing” but afterwards requested a full rewrite. This can cause problems for you and the writer because it blows up the schedule and the budget. Like any other business, an additional service requires additional cost. So know what you want the writer to do, have a firm grasp of the scope of your project. A quick google check will give you the difference between editing, writing, ghostwriting, proofing, and copyediting.
3. Writing is collaborative. Most people visualize writers sitting alone at a desk for hours with a quirky pet nearby, and they’re not totally wrong. But in reality, writing is a very collaborative process—especially in this digital age. A good writer will work hard to match the right voice, tone, and vocabulary style to their client. Depending on project and process, the writer may ask you for feedback on ideas and the first draft. They might like to talk over the phone to get to know you and the project better and discuss overall direction. They’re collecting data and making sure they’re on the right track. A good rule of thumb is that you can never give the writer too much information. It’s easy to cut words, but it’s impossible to create out of a void.
4. Respect the numbers. Because writing is a rather creative thing, its best done with parameters like deadlines and a fair rate. Communicate to your writer exactly when you need the work completed and trust that they’ll hold to it. And honor their rate. Be honest about what you can afford. Most writers will negotiate a comfortable arrangement but generally, they’ve worked hard, studied long, earned degrees, and published bylines enough to know how much their expertise is worth.
5. Expect questions. Writers worry about things like the oxford comma, em dashes verses en dashes, and the use of past and present tense—things you probably don’t care about but that influence the experience of your audience. This is one of the reasons why you hire a writer to begin with, so you don’t have to worry about these things. But to make sure they’re following your brand and voice, they will have a few questions for you. Some may not might seem particular or peculiar, but it all contributes to the goal of making you read as professional as possible.
6. Anticipate revisions. If you’re not satisfied with the writing at the end of the project, don’t give up or start from scratch again. Call the writer or send them an email and explain what exactly isn’t working. Most professional writers allow, and even expect, a final round of simple revisions. They want to be proud of their work, to serve their clients well, so ask for the changes you need. If your request goes beyond the original scope of the project, an additional service fee may be added. But sticking with it a little longer, putting in just a little more work is most often where magic happens.
Writers are famous for being a little odd and it is true that we are a strange bunch. But the majority of us love our work and will do our utmost to equip you, or your business, with good words and quality storytelling.
