How to Hire a Writer

About Writer Nancy Kamp

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Sometimes you need the services of a professional writer or editor.  Use these tips to get the help you require.

Define your project as specifically as possible in terms of target audience, distribution, deadline, approach (humor, sales, etc.), desired result (action, goodwill, etc.).

Determine your budget.  Allow for the unexpected.

Decide on a hierarchy of reporting.  Who will report to whom?

Locate potential writers:

• Newsletters devoted to listing jobs for writers:

Absolute Write

Writer Gazette

WritersWeekly

Writing-World.com

The more places you list your project, the more candidates you'll have.

• Online job brokers - These sites require service providers like writers to pay a portion of their earned fees to the site.  Competition is fierce, and rates may be low because the job candidates are often new to writing and are seeking experience.

Evaluate candidates:

• Previous experience - Ask for references.  You want to know if a writer meets deadlines and product goals and is easy to work with.

• Professional samples - Published writers maintain "clips" of their work.  These may be available online or can be included within the body of an e-mail.  (You don't want a virus, do you?)  Look for a writing style that you will be comfortable with.

Extend terms:

Freelance writers contract their jobs.  They do not generally become employees of the firms for which they write though this is possible.  However, the US Department of Labor is very strict in its definition of contract labor - make sure you abide by the law.

Legal contracts, defining the terms and specifications of the work needed, protect all parties. 

• For example, a company that is not satisfied with the work produced should generally receive one reasonable rewrite at no charge.  Writers should not be expected to turn out unlimited rewrites or additional material without extra payment.

• Legal ownership of the material should also be specified.

The National Writers Union has published standard contracts on its website.

Provide ongoing feedback.

Results count.  Great writing makes all the difference in the results you can expect from your project.  Treat your writer like the valuable member of your team that he or she is. 

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