Once I made the decision to write, I found freelance writers just about everywhere.  Prior to that, however, I'd only run across one or two. Writers are a mysterious bunch, and I doubt that I'd be alone when I say that I once assumed that 99% of writers wrote for book, magazine, or newspaper publishers. While writing for these markets are fine, I'm happy to say that opportunities for writers are quite a bit broader.  A science geek at heart, I've been lucky enough to write for researchers, doctors, and a general audience while learning about fascinating topics.

I've had some interesting questions posed to me since I've started writing full time.  Some are a bit personal and require only short answers (the answer to "Can you actually earn a living by writing?" is yes, by the way), other questions take a little more time (see below). 

Established businesses with ongoing communication needs are typical clients for a freelance writer, but I occasionally get queried by businesses and individuals have occasional needs that they don't know how to fulfill.  Below are common questions from the latter group.  And if you have a question not answered here, drop me a line at jill@taylorwrites.com so I can post it.  Odds are that other people are wondering, too!

Click on a question that interests you to go directly to the answer.

Who hires professional writers on a freelance basis? 

Why would a company or individual hire a professional writer to write something that they could write themselves?  (Includes a real "before" and "after" flyer sample)

How do I find the best writer for my project?

Do I go to an agency if my project requires more than writing?  I need graphics, and printing, and web pages, and...

Answer: 

Who hires freelance writers?  Honestly, just about anyone who needs to look professional.  Clear, concise, and thoughtful communications that don't have spelling or grammatical errors get taken seriously. In a competitive business climate, individuals and businesses who want to earn money can't afford to come off as second rate.  

When I graduated from college and moved to Atlanta several years ago, I hired a writer to produce a resume and cover letter for me.  It was one of the best investments I ever made.  The $100 that I paid for the cover letter felt awful at the time, but it paid for itself many times over.  I used the basic format repeatedly over the course of my corporate career because I received feedback that it differentiated me from other people who had similar education and skills on their resume. The hiring manager inferred positive characteristics from my written presentation, and it produced an invitation to interview. 

The resume example holds true for any business.  The market is full of innovative products, people, and ideas that won't thrive without a unique voice that is heard and remembered. That's where writers play a crucial role.

back to questions

Answer:

Why would a company or individual hire a professional writer to write something that they could write themselves?  Hey, this is a valid question.  Writers cost money.  

First of all, solid writing isn't as easy as it looks.  Just like anything else, learning to meet communication objectives comes with time, practice, and experience.  I might be able to pick a few notes on the guitar, but I'm never going to be a part of a band unless I start practicing hard on a daily basis in earnest.  Professional writing is the same.  Asking a developer who'd rather be programming to write a white paper doesn't always make good sense, especially when that paper is needed as a marketing tool.  Additionally, most businesses run lean (including ad agencies) and don't staff enough full time writers to take care of every project. Over flow work for essential communications is often outsourced.

Another reason is return on investment (I hate that term, but it's a business reality). No matter who writes the material, business communications are expensive to produce, distribute, and maintain. Advertisements, procedures, presentations, books, just about any material you can imagine is written with a desired outcome in mind. If that outcome doesn't happen, it's money wasted.  Companies  do well to use professional writers for even the relatively simple projects where there is a large investment in the outcome.

Take a look at an actual flyer announcing a new program offered by a human resources consulting firm (the company name is intentionally left out). The flyer is a complete page, so I've provided a link (Sample 1). Keep in mind that the company wants people to look at this flyer and then proceed to pay a tidy sum of money to attend the program - this was reported by the firm to be the only information in writing offered.

I've highlighted some spelling errors in yellow. There are other major areas where the flyer begs for improvement as well.  It doesn't identify an audience.  It's not clear as to why the 10 steps are divided into different categories. It doesn't provide the reader with any reason to invest in the program offered by this company instead of another company.  And the most important part of all it missing: what is the reader supposed to do? If the company wants the reader to sign up for the program, it should say so and provide instructions to make it easy.

Sample 2 is an edited version of the flyer. A few tweaks here, some corrections there, and voila! The result is a flyer that is a bit more professional in literally around fifteen minutes of editorial time.

back to questions

Answer:

How do you find the right writer for your project?  Whether you are referred to writers via an advertising agency, communications firm, professional organization, or word-of-mouth, it's in your best interest to interview people who are familiar with your type of product or service, the kind of writing that you need (advertising, documentation, public relations, etc.), and the audience you need to address (general public, internal departments, scientific community, etc.).  Then choose the writer that best fits in your company - during the interview process, be on the look out for how quickly he/she can step into your shoes.  Here are some sample questions you'll want to ask yourself:

Is the writer someone who can deal with your deadlines?  

Is the writer amenable to your review process and revision requirements?

Do you require on-site meetings with the writer, and if so, is the writer willing to accommodate you?  

The greatest portfolio in the world won't make up for someone who is lost or can't function in your business environment.  Finding the right person will cost you less in the long run, no matter what the initial fee assessment looks like.

back to questions

Answer:

Do I go to an agency if my project requires more than writing?  The short answer is, "it depends."  The great thing about an agency is that you're probably going to have one stop shopping for writing, graphics, printing, etc.  The talent that agencies don't have in house falls to freelancers through the agency.  

Many freelancers, however, are part of small referral networks that can be thought of as "virtual" agencies.  Copywriters especially tend to build relationships with graphic designers, animators, voice talent, etc.  

If you are in the market for a turn-key solution, I'd encourage you to continue to consider freelance writers. Just make a referral network and project management a part of your selection criteria.

back to questions