Who’s on Your Writing Team?

Who’s on your writing team? You don’t have a writing team, you say? You write alone in the privacy of your home office—in solitude—and you like it that way?

But what about all of those people who have helped you with this and other writing projects and those you’ll be working with in the future? You still can’t think of who that might be? Let’s forget, for a moment, about your fifth grade teacher who instilled in you the love of writing, your dad who encouraged you to try, and your best friend who likes everything you write. What about the members of your writer’s group who critiqued your work until it hurt, the librarian who found the resources you so desperately needed in order to write that chapter on early Savannah, the experts who gave you permission to quote their material, and the managing editor who accepted your story for publication? Looking back, can’t you see how important these teammates were to your success?

And the more ingrained you become within the writing and publishing field, the more team members you will acquire. Let’s say that you are working on a book manuscript. Outside of the usual experts, professionals and information sources that you may pursue, you will be working with an editor to fine-tune your manuscript before it is published. You may have a team of experts to help you during the publishing process through their books, articles, websites and organizations. Each of these professionals will have a hand in guiding you. If you decide to self-publish, you will acquire several additional team members to handle the tasks you cannot do yourself, such as the printing the book, obtaining the ISBN and library block, distribution and so forth.

And you’ll assemble another team to help you with book marketing. This team may include book reviewers, booksellers, members of the media, program chairpersons, event organizers and web designers, to mention a few.

I notice that things change between people when they work together on a project. Becoming part of a team has an effect on the way we feel about others and about ourselves. Participating as a functioning member of a partnership—whether we’re working for good or for evil—gives us a deep sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves. For many, it’s a comforting feeling of support and a powerful sense of accomplishment.

Teamwork is practically a birthright. We have the opportunity to work within the boundaries of a team from the day we are born. Families function best when everyone feels that they are a vital part of a well oiled team. When the family dynamics don’t allow for clear division of responsibility, support, attention, affection, togetherness and love within some semblance of a team environment, it fails. Thus, the rise in gang membership—all these misguided young people want is a sense of belonging and support.

We can accomplish more when we work as a team. We are bigger, smarter, stronger, more effective and more powerful when we team up with the right people. We have more ideas. We get more done.

Sometimes teams are deliberately formed and other times they just happen. Have you ever been in a crisis or near crisis situation which was averted because of teamwork? Maybe you were in an elevator with strangers when the power went off, survived a bus crash or were involved in a natural disaster while in a public place. Sure, some people will stand back and contribute nothing—they have nothing to give. But most people, in dire circumstances, will band together, form an instantaneous union and work to alleviate the problem or change the situation. That’s teamwork.

But what about the teamwork involved in producing a book? Sure, we all know it takes contributions by many people to bring a book to production, and one of the most intimate relationships is between the author and the editor. Like most busy editors, I’ve edited books on beauty secrets, abuse, religious epiphanies, spiritual awakenings, channeled messages, and more. I’ve edited historical novels, young adult fantasies, self-help books, business books and memoirs related to travel, music, grief, coming of age, family dynamics and so forth. And I’m impacted by each and every project.

In recent years, I’ve identified the “high” I feel at the conclusion of each project. It is that sense of accomplishment through teamwork. Here’s how it plays out. The author brings me a book manuscript. It may be a great idea or a wonderful story and it might even be either fairly or beautifully well written. But most of the manuscripts I take on as an editor have some chronic problems. Most manuscripts reflect the authors’ various editorial limitations. I’m seeing more authors for whom English is their second language and their manuscripts exhibit their various language imperfections. Some authors are hung-up on old style punctuation. Others simply have some bad habits such as, run-on or muddy sentences, repeating words unnecessarily, using clichés, using the passive instead of the active voice, misspelling or misusing words and so forth.

Once the editing is completed, however, I see the finished product, I can’t help but marvel at what the partnership has achieved. I recall the condition of the manuscript when I first saw it. I reflect on some of the conversations I had early on with the author and how the author, in some cases, questioned and resisted my suggestions. Some of them even fired me only to come back months later asking for my help. Not every author is ready to be part of a team because they don’t understand how it all works. They are used to working in a vacuum—doing things their way without interference or, heaven forbid, criticism. Once they spend a little time outside the comfort of their writing room, however, and learn something about the real world of publishing, they are soon ready to join a team for the benefit of their project.

I love my role as the author’s partner. It is hard work helping new authors to find their way in this competitive field, especially when the author refuses to help move the many obstacles out of the way of his or her progress. But it can be extremely satisfying work when, in the end, we have a much better product than we started with—one with a larger target audience, one that is more well-written, one that actually portrays the message or information the author hoped to get across.

Folks, just because you have the idea or the dream doesn’t mean that your attempt to put it down on paper will be successful. It doesn’t mean that you can communicate your message adequately. And it doesn’t mean that you have a marketable product. Consider consulting others and even hiring qualified team members to evaluate your book manuscript and edit it (if needed) and to advise you in navigating the vast, fiercely competitive publishing field.

If you hope to experience success as a published author, it’s a good idea to start assembling your team. Start by learning more about the publishing industry. How?

• Join publishing organizations such as SPAWN (www.spawn.org), IBPA (www.pma-online.org) and SPAN (www.spannet.org).
• Read books and articles by the professionals: Patricia Fry, Dan Poynter, John Kremer, Marilyn Ross and others.
• Attend writers and book marketing conferences.
• Attend writers and publishers group meetings.
• Take pertinent courses and classes.

How do you select an editor or publishing consultant?

• Ask satisfied authors for recommendations.
• Meet these individuals at writers group meetings, conferences, online, etc. Ask for references and samples of their work.
• Contact those professionals that you admire or trust. Again, ask for references and samples of their work.

You’ve put a lot of time and effort into your manuscript. You have your heart set on a successful publishing experience. I can tell you that it is not that easy to score in this competitive industry. But you’ll have a better chance at success if you are willing to assemble and work with the right team.

Patricia Fry is the author of 28 books including “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book,” www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. She is the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) www.spawn.org. And she works with other authors in many capacities. Check out her online courses for authors and her consulting and editorial services at www.matilijapress.com. Contact Patricia at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Last 5 posts by Patrica Fry

• Authors Who Love too Much - August 19th, 2010
• Don’t Bypass the Onramp to Publishing Success - March 19th, 2010
• How Do Successful Writers Deal With Competition? - September 20th, 2009
• How to Organize Your Small Book Project - August 10th, 2009
• Yes, You DO Need an Editor - June 15th, 2009