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How to Find a Great Writer — the Easy Way

Getting the Words Right for Your Project

Sure, you’ve written some good prose here and there, but you’re not a professional writer, and anyways, you don’t have the time to do it right for your business. A well-written article or Web site page can involve so much. Seriously. Just check out this diagram. Searching for a great San Diego Web writer and editor Finding and hiring a professional contract, full-time, or freelance writer can be difficult. Here’s how to make it easy.

1. Know Who You’re Looking For

Find a writer that is an expert in the medium — a book writer for example, has a different skill-set than a print brochure writer, Web / online writer, quiz or calculator writer, game writer or newsletter writer
Find a writer that has experience with the genre — fiction, nonfiction, marketing, technical, entertainment, educational, SEO, or interactive, for example. The writer doesn’t necessarily need past knowledge in the subject matter. In fact, you may get more creative results if she or he doesn’t. For quality control, pair up a writer without expert knowledge and an editor with expert knowledge in the subject.
Evaluate his or her writing style — email correspondence, Web site copy, blog posts, ads, and a few recent samples should give you an idea of a writer’s overall writing style and flexibility.

2. Identify a Few Really Good Writers

Once you know what kind of writer you’re looking for, here’s how to quickly locate a good one:

Ask your friends and colleagues for a referral. Be specific about the kind of writer, the length of the project, whether you need someone local or in-house, and experience level. Use e-mail, LinkedIn status updates, Twitter, and Facebook to get the word out.
Check the freelance writing and professional directories, such as MediaBistro, Elance, and LinkedIn. On LinkedIn, search for “editorial, writer, editor, freelance writer,” and other keywords that match your project, including location.
Search Twitter. Use keywords such as #journchat, #editorchat, #pr, #prsa, #freelance, #writechat, #writers, #jobs, #editors, and #contentstrategy
Post your writing project online. Try CraigsList, MediaBistro, Elance, subject-specific journals and online bulletins, and your local online newspaper. Use this option as a last resort.

3. Or … Ask Me.

I may know a freelance writer or editor who can help.

PYBOP Scribbles: The 11 Step Writing Process

The 11 Step Writing Process

Know other creative ways to find a really good freelance writer? Let me know in the comments below. San Diego photo by Gary Allard. Nifty diagram of writing process by me, Shelly Bowen.

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Posted by Shelly Bowen on Aug 17, 2009. Filed under SEO Copy Writing, Writing and Editing

4 Comments | RSS feed for comments on this post

Cool post! The diagram is a nice touch! Definitely invaluable for writers, especially web content writers. Thanks a lot!

Comment by Philip M. on Aug 25, 2009
Then again, perhaps be careful using Elance to find writers and editors. Word is they’re having some security issues.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/28/security-snafu-elance-sends-private-messages-all-over-the-place/

Comment by Shelly Bowen on Aug 28, 2009
Also try professional editors and writers directories, such as http://www.sdpen.com/find/editor_general.php.

Comment by Shelly Bowen on Oct 21, 2009
[...] If you do seek writing and editing help, here’s how to find the right writer for you. [...]

Pingback by 6 Ways to Literally Start Blog Writing | Shelly Bowen: Exceptional Web Content on Nov 25, 2009

Shelly's PYBOP hey, what's PYBOP?

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