Experienced writers know and understand the importance of deadlines. This is particularly true when writing for periodicals and companies who are in the business of publishing written works in whatever medium they find their niche. These are newspapers, magazines, newsletters, websites, blogs, etc. There is so much writing going on for all kinds of things and people. When it comes to articles for general public consumption, particularly those that are keeping up with current events, it must be written to meet a pretty quick deadline but must read like a work that was given much time to prepare. It must be informative, it must be relevant, it must be factual, and it must be error-free. Whether the current events are about the latest fashion worn at this year’s met gala a few weeks ago, the birth of Harry and Meghan’s baby, or the #stopthebans protests that happened this week, these elements must be present.
http://marshallsmalley.com/42-self-assessment-tax-return-deadlines
But what happens when writers get clients who want them to ghostwrite their story into a book, need a technical manual written, wants to build them a website complete with graphic design and content, or find them a grant to propose for their business or organization? What if the writer becomes part of the creative/creation process and finds themselves as a contributor to the building of an infrastructure or in the earliest stages of a project? For any writer to rise to these occasions, they must not be afraid to create an accountability clause, take on a project management posture, and provide a vision for all involved to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It may sound cliché, but setting goals, making deadlines, and meeting them is a good formula for success. As a writer, if you have clients who want you to provide some kind of notable content, worthy of the page it’s written on, and they have no idea when they want their written project completed, in order for the vision to be realized, I highly recommend that you set a deadline for them, making sure you assess the following in the process:
1. Is the client passionate about the project? You, the writer, cannot be passionate about their project, alone, and you shouldn’t be more passionate about it than the client. If your client is a team of people, most likely, you are safe in the distribution of passion. If not, you may want to reconsider taking on the project.
2. Is the project of interest to you? I find that when I take on projects that interest me, I am a much more effective writer and I have a better grasp on conveying my clients’ voice and message. Moreover, in such instances, it is important that interest in a subject is not to be confused with knowing about it. Oftentimes, interest means that I am happy to do the research to answer questions that, maybe, I’ve wondered about before. It’s just interesting. It does not mean I know a lot about the matter. But, if you’re great at research and if you’re expert at comprehending different ideas and concepts, these kinds of projects should be fun.
3. Is the client as committed to the project as you are? This is important because this allows you to gage how much time will be spent with them to gather information and how much time you will spend researching and fact-checking. I recommend asking lots of questions to the client. A good client can go on and on about the subject, showing that they are a subject matter expert on the issue. You’re just there to organize their thoughts and ideas on paper. Be cautious of those who have trouble expressing their thoughts and ideas. There may be an ulterior motive.
In my business, Inspirational Editions, we have a process for completing every project that comes our way. What I have learned is that whatever your process is, you run the risk of not meeting your objectives when deadlines are not set. They are essential to the success of your business, particularly when you are working on multiple projects and working for various clients. The goal is to never miss a deadline.
In order to meet that goal, every day, it is important to manage your time, your projects, your clients, and your staff (if you have one) very well. Meeting every deadline means that you have given yourself enough time to meet all the criteria set for the project whether it is defined by you, the client, or a third-party entity. This is usually outlined in the scope of work, determined by you and your client.
For more information on the importance of deadlines or if you just want to reach out to me or my company, please feel free to call 209.425.2490 or email inspirational.editions@outlook.com.
