Managing Writers

I actually have a small team of writers now; not only to help ease my workload a little, but also to help them get extra cash. It's a different experience managing freelancers-by our very nature, a partnership is a partnership of equals or nearly just like one between clients and writers. As a freelance writer with no little reputation now, I can usually pick and choose jobs that I will like (or at least tolerate) and I try to extend that courtesy to my writers.

It's not just a matter of doing this because I can, but rather because it's more effective. By giving my writers work they will actually enjoy and not just put up with, it ensures that they will stick through the deadlines and the writing with, if not a smile, at least a look of concentration on their faces. This in turn promotes a higher quality of work which is done on time and not delayed or ridden with angst and problems.

In a very real way, I'm more of an agent for my writers than a boss. I try to match my writers' abilities, preferences and scheduling with work so that the work they turn out is something that is worth paying for and something they can be proud of and enjoy. In return, Quill for Hire improves its reputation and gets more work which can then be shared around. Sure it means that I get the dregs sometimes, but as an all around writer, I can write on just about anything anyway. Plus I get no small amount of satisfaction when my writers tell me afterwards that they enjoyed the work and learned a lot from it.

I really wish that all businesses could find a way to make this model work. Instead of forcing employees into a role that doesn't suit, find roles that suit the employee. I'm sure productivity, effectiveness and efficiency would shoot through the roof and you'd have much happier employees with greater degrees of loyalty.