It can be intimidating to recruit a writer for your project; how will you know they can fill the shoes you need? Whether you’re looking for a writer to improve your brand’s marketing or craft a stunning memoir for you, their words on the page will majorly determine your project’s success. You don’t want to approach the recruiting process without knowing what to look for. Choosing the wrong writer for the job can turn your marketing or entire book into a flop. You can avoid costly mistakes when you know how to prevent the most common hiring mistakes.
Choosing the Wrong Type of Writer
From an outside perspective, it may seem as if all writers can take on any project, but this is a common misconception. Writers typically specialize in certain types of writing, and while they can often take on some different kinds of projects, they usually won’t be experienced in every type of writing. There are many different kinds of writing, from technical documents to children’s fiction, and all require vastly different approaches, skills, and education. If you’re looking to hire a fiction ghostwriter, you’re probably not going to find much luck with a hire who only has technical writing experience. Make sure the writer you hire has experience in the type of work you’re looking for, and can prove it with a portfolio or writing submission during the interview process.
No Clear Goals
If you need help with writing, you’ll likely want to start recruiting immediately. Before you do, ensure you have fully fleshed out goals and expectations for what you need. If you hire a writer before you have a clear idea of what types of projects, word counts, and tones you need, it will not only confuse any writer you hire, but you’re probably not going to receive the writing style you’re looking for, frustrating you as well. What are you expecting the writer to do and how often? What tone and voice are you looking for? What formats will the writing take? Where will this writing exist, and who will read it? These questions should serve as a bare minimum set of goals for your project before you start hiring.
Going for the Cheapest Option
Recruiting costs a lot; you may be tempted to opt for the most affordable option to help balance your expenses. Choosing the cheapest writer may not help your project move forward, though. While many skilled writers can have lower rates to get more clients, a lower rate may mean their attention is spread too thin due to a lack of pay. If a rate seems too good to be true, be extra diligent during the hiring process. Check portfolios, ask for writing assignments, and investigate references at a minimum. As the saying goes, you typically get what you pay for. Consider increasing your budget to ensure your writer can give you the focus you need.
Incompatability
An extremely skilled writer isn’t automatically the best fit for your project. Tone and style go a long way. Many writers are adaptable, but don’t expect a writer to completely change their style and tone to fit what you need. The writer you hire should have a tone and style that works well with what you need already. Requesting a paid writing assignment during the interview process that aligns with the type of work you’d have them do is an excellent way to make sure they can adapt their writing style to fit your project.
Lack of a Clear Deadline
If you’re vague on deadlines, a writer will typically take longer to ensure the text is thorough, accurate, and reads well. If you don’t give your writer a deadline, then don’t expect quick turnaround. You need to be precise about what you expect and when; no one can meet a deadline that exists only in your mind. Ensure the deadline is realistic for good-quality work to get done.
Skipping an Interview
Some recruiters think that an interview isn’t necessary for a writer since they’ll be writing instead of doing other tasks. Writers will be interacting with you or your team, however, and they’ll need to be team players to collaborate on the project. If a writer has poor communication skills, they can cause delays or conflicts during your project.
Vague Briefing
Just like with deadlines, you need to be specific about what you want from the writer; they can’t work miracles when you’re vague. Let the writer know what you’d like in terms of style, tone, word count, deadline, audience, and any dos and don’ts you may have. Let them know when, how, and how much they’ll be paid beforehand. Create a contract to determine who owns the content they write and what they can do with it, if anything. If they’re to provide revisions, let them know—and give them plenty of time to revise before the deadline. Give feedback and allow them to learn what you do and don’t like so they can grow to become a better fit.
Conclusion
No two writers are alike. If you want your writing project to be as powerful as possible, you need to approach the process with caution and preparation. The better you communicate with writing recruits, the better fit you’ll be able to find. Establish your project’s goals, deadlines, and expectations before you make an official hire. You’ll want to ensure they’re qualified for your project’s genre, tone, and style. You’ll want to communicate with each other effectively for the best collaboration. Your vision can become a reality with the right writer; trust the process.
