How I Work
The Consultation
We discuss by email, telephone or in person what your project is, why you need the text, how many words or pages you need, and your deadline. The more details you provide the more I’ll be able to focus on how to best craft what I write to your needs.
I strongly suggest that you send me details about yourself, including your company website, history, philosophy, your goals, your competitors, your target market, and any other information that will give me a thorough understanding of who you are and what you do. This won’t necessarily take long, but it’s necessary for me to get an idea of the work entailed as well as a way for me to calculate an estimate for you.
The Agreement
If you decide to hire me, I’ll draw up a Project Agreement in which I outline the scope of the project and its deliverables as well as deadlines and payment terms.
Once you have signed* the agreement, I’ll invoice you for the first installment of the total fee. Upon receipt of the fee, I will start writing.
*a written approval of the agreement through email is acceptable as well.
The Research
Although most people provide me with most of the information I need to get started, every project is different. I might need to do additional research on my own, such as interviews with staff and customers, or on the internet and at libraries, and so on. If a lot of research is required, then I will add that time into the schedule outlined in the agreement.
The Writing
Once I have all of the information I need, I start writing. I usually work from home, but I also like the quiet of the library, where the distractions are few. In the process of writing, it’s not unusual for me to come up with additional questions, so don’t be surprised if I call or email you several times before the deadline. Before or right on the deadline, I send my work as an email attachment to you. (If you want the document to be password protected, I send the password in a separate document).
The Revisions
Now you get to see what I’ve done. Take your time to read my work, insert notes, comments, suggestions, questions and changes wherever you feel necessary. Simply return your revisions to me by email.
For most projects, I include two revisions. Please note that revisions are edits and changes needed to what I’ve written. They are not complete rewrites. If you feel I need to completely rewrite everything I’ve submitted, then it’s apparent there was a fundamental misunderstanding of the project from the start. This is why the consultation and research part of every project is so important!
After receiving revisions, I make the necessary changes and start polishing the draft(s). Usually the second revision is a short list of things that need touching up.
The Final Draft – and payment
Nothing feels better than to receive the final “OK” from you. Once you have approved my work, I will send you an invoice for the remainder of my fee, due within seven (7) business days.
Continued Customer Care
I like to stay in touch with customers even after a project’s completion. It pleases me immensely when I hear that what I’ve written has helped your business. I am always looking for long-term clients, so if I’ve done a good job for you, know that I’m available for future projects!