To be quite an adventure, writing a fiction book is also really rough. You’re not alone if you have a good idea but are drowning in the process of getting that idea on paper. Many of the aspirant writers out there take professional help by hiring a book writers for hire. Yet, before you jump into hiring someone, there are some do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind.
Through this blog, we will discuss these important tips so that you can make an informed decision when finding a book writer for your fiction project. By the end, you’ll know how to work effectively with writers and bring your story into the real world—publication.
Do: Define Your Vision Clearly
One should at all times afford a hired book writer a clear vision of the story one has—what the plot is, the characters that are involved, and most importantly, the message that is to be pointed across. Even when everything has not yet been figured out, doing so will provide a better start in articulating ideas to the writer.
Think of it this way: if you were building a house, you would want your architect to know precisely what kind of home you are dreaming of. The same thing goes for your fiction book. The more detailed your vision, the better it is for your writer to bring it to life.
Tip: Write a very short outline of your story. Identify the main instances of the storyline and the journey of the character. It will be your guide and that of the writer.
Rush to Staff
At this point, it is very tempting to want to dig in already, particularly when you are all hyped up on a project. In fact, starting the hiring process early can spell disaster in the later stages. You need to take your time researching the writers and find one that not only has experience working with fiction but also understands your style and voice.
I made a mistake in engaging a writer for my first novel project because I went with the first person I found during a Google search. What followed is a style clash that was totally uncalled for, poor communication, and a few frustrating weeks later, I knew I had to find someone who actually “got” my vision.
Tip: Interview vastly more writers before you make your choice. Ask for writing samples and go over your project in great detail to make sure you are on the same page.
Do: Provide clear communication
Establish key points of communication when working with any book writers for hire. Be honest about how often you will check in with each other and on what communication channels—email, phone, video calls, and so forth. It is only through clear, consistent communication that misunderstandings will be minimized, and the project will stay on track.
My friend, for example, who wrote a novel with the theme of fantasy, used to have weekly check-ins with the writer. They used to review the progress, go through things that had or had not changed, and really kept things on course. It made the process go really smoothly, and they both enjoyed it.
Tip: Have a well-thought-out regular meeting schedule to learn your progress and solve arising concerns. Consistent communication builds trust and ensures the project stays on track.
Don’t micromanage the writer.
While spelling out a vision and providing feedback, don’t micromanage the writer. The professional writer is typically hired for a good reason. Have some faith that they will be able to put the story together using your insights. Continual calling and rewriting with each step could be done at a cost to the creative process and would definitely slow it down.
In fact, since I had employed a writer, I found myself talking their ear off about the details of a short story and wanted in on every sentence and dialogue. Eventually, the writer reminded me gently that she needed creative license to do her work. It was a valuable lesson in letting go and trusting the professional you had then hired.
Tip: Allow the writer to do their job. Only step outside of this space if they need some coaching or feedback, but try not to control every aspect of the writing.
Do: Establish Clear Deadlines
One expects to work with deadlines while working with book writers for hire. They keep the project on schedule and keep both you and the writer on track. It is essential that realistic deadlines be established, ones that match the writer’s workload and the level of complexity of the project.
You are going to have to take the long haul if it is a long book or requires serious research. Unrealistic deadlines can hence frequently lead the work not meeting the expectations and being forced out.
Tip: Prepare a schedule that is workable for the two of you. You can always be flexible should circumstances and priorities change.
Don’t: Skip the Contract
A book writer for hire surely requires a written contract wherein work, terms and conditions of payment, deadlines, and other particulars will be stipulated. This way, both you and the writer shall have a proper understanding of what is required.
In the past, I have worked with a writer without a written agreement, assuming that a verbal one would suffice. Unfortunately, this led to some sort of scope creep, and at the end of the day, we had differing ideas of what it should look like. This situation could have been greatly ameliorated by a contract.
Tip: Use a contract with every writer, even if you know him or her personally. It will keep the working relationship professional and get both of you on the same page.
Do: Offer Constructive Feedback
When hiring a book writer, giving feedback is core. It indeed has to be done right and in an amicable way. Mostly, the concern is on the positive and what should be changed, with reasons. Most importantly, it makes a story better built and it never in any way affects the morale of the writer.
I remember the first time I gave feedback on a draft. Sometimes, amidst what wasn’t working, I forgot to say what parts I loved. I left the writer feeling frustrated, gallingly, and further gnashing teeth with our working relationship. After that experience, I made it a point to balance my feedback with positive reinforcement.
Tip: Start your feedback note with what you liked about the draft. Thereafter, provide some specific suggestions for improvement.
Do Not Expect Perfection on the First Draft
What you are getting from your book writer for hire is a draft, not the final version of your fiction book. It won’t be perfect, and that is just fine. Writing is a process and will include some revision, edits, and polish. When you receive the draft, don’t panic in case the first draft that will come from your book writer for hire lacks that exact vision that you may have. There will always be an opportunity to clean it up later.
But I learned this lesson the hard way. The disappointment came from receiving the first draft of a project that quite failed to meet my expectations. Yet, on discussion with the writer and a few other rounds of alterations, we ended up with a superbly nice final version of the project.
Tip: Be patient and go with the flow of the process. Make room for changes, and rest assured that the end product will be more than worth the hustle.
Do: Be Open to Collaboration
That said, it doesn’t mean you have to take away all the control from your project by hiring a book writer. Remember that you and the writer will only collaborate on a particular project. You’re both working toward the same goal: to create a compelling story that readers will love. Do not shy away from being receptive to ideas or suggestions from the writer, as this might open a whole new perspective and actually enhance your book.
I guess one of the experiences of working with a writer that I could put in the best category would be co-creating a character arc. The writer contributed an unexpected plot twist, which actually took that story to another level. It really paid off for me to be open to collaboration so that something special might be created in that moment.
Tip: Accept the collaborative nature of writing. In two heads, creation is terrific.
Do Not: Forget to Celebrate the Milestones
Writing a book, whether in collaboration with a book writer for hire or as an independent author, is an achievement. The to-do list is so long that it’s easy to forget the most important part of summarizing the journey—one of the ways to remember is to stop and smell the roses—from the first draft to completion of revisions to publication.
It was great to hold the completed book at the inception of the first copy. All the toil, work, collaboration, and patience seemed to have paid off. To break out in celebration at that point, I was reminded of why I started the project.
Tip: Celebrate each milestone in the writing process, no matter how derisory. It keeps one motivated and reminds of the strides made.
Conclusion
Even though this can be a great venue to hire fiction storybook writers, one should be very considerate and collaborative. In so doing, you can be assured of a good partnership. The following do’s and don’ts will manage expectations, and in the end, you will come up with a book that will make you proud to call it your own.
Remember, the key to this process is clear communication, patience, and trust. Approach it just right and you and your writer will work at together creating something truly magical.
Now, what about you? Have you ever worked with a book writer for hire? In either case, what was your experience? Do share below.