How to Discover Your Writing Team

How to Discover Your Writing Team

 “I want to create a stunning visual for my book.”

“Maybe it could feature a Golden retriever, flying through the air for a ball,” says your cover designer.

“Yes! And I want to have a clear, lucid style.”

“Where you offer instructions, with a few jokes thrown in,” chimes your writer.

What is this?

Well, this is the dream team: your writing team. This is a group of people who get you, who understand and share your vision for a book, and who are dedicated to making your book as great it can be.

Many people imagine writers to be lone wolves, typing away in seclusion. But in reality, when you discover your intuitive writing team, you can get more done and achieve more success in the long run. When you discover your intuitive writing team, you discover a group of people who are able to collaborate on your ideas without many communication mishaps. The completed project will be even better than you thought possible!

Is It Even Possible?

What are the odds of finding a team of people who actually get you? The truth is that it is more than possible! You can discover your writing team with some searching and even some trial and error.

The first key is to establish your vision. If you have a clear vision, you can communicate it more clearly. Then your team can get you.

The second key is looking for like-minded people to join your team. Your team may include illustrators, book cover designers, editors, proofreaders, publishers, and writers. Whatever kind of help you need, look for it. Look at people’s portfolios and talk to them to determine if they seem to think like you do.

If conversation flows smoothly with someone, then they are likely on your wavelength. That makes writing together so much easier. People who can offer lots of ideas different from your own can also be valuable, as they provide new input and perspectives to your work.

How to Find People to Join Your Writing Team

 The Internet and local writing workshops are some of the places where you might find potential new members of your writing team.

Online, you can use sites like Upwork to find skilled people. Upwork lets you connect with illustrators, designers, editors, formatters, and writers. You can view their ratings and portfolios in one place. I also found that Mark’s List is a great place to find people, as well as Fiverr.

Writing workshops allow you to meet new people who also love writing. You can read their work or hear them read it in class. You can also talk in person. Look up local writing workshops online or find them through MeetUp.

You may also consider attending writer’s networking events or parties. You can find such events online, such as on Facebook. I belong to the Writer’s Workshop and I have met many great writers through that site.

Contests can also connect you with other writers socially. I met a great writer through the “12 Short Stories in 12 Months” challenge. Look for local or online contests. Read the work of other writers and post comments on work you like, asking about a future collaboration.

Social media offers many “groups” for like-minded people. Join a writing group on Facebook, Pinterest, or even LinkedIn to find other writers and editors who may be interested in joining your writing team. Talk to them in chat and ask if they are interested. Ask to review their work.

How to Provide a Creative Environment for Your Writing Team

Think about creating a place where creativity can flourish.

When there is creativity your creative writing flows from your pen (or hands, if you’re on a computer). Nothing impedes your stream of consciousness. Well, with a writing team, the same principles applies and you all produce ideas that just flow from your minds and converge into a single, solid piece of writing. You can go back and edit later, but in the moment, nothing halts your creativity.

The environment that encourages this intuitive flow of creativity involves a total suspension of judgement. No one will be shy about creating and sharing their ideas if they feel that they won’t be judged.

Furthermore, you must communicate your ideas clearly. The other members of the team will then feel encouraged to share their ideas. Communication becomes easy as you all practice it.

Finally, treat everyone as an equally important facet of the writing team. Everyone has a job that is critical to the success of the team. Everyone works together. No one is ignored, left out, or belittled. You compliment good work and provide kind constructive feedback on bad work. If you build everyone up, you promote intuitive flow.

Spend Lots of Time Together

 When you first start working with someone, creativity  may not just magically happen. It can still be built over time. With multiple conversations, you can start to meld your ideas together and form an intuitive link that leads to great work.

As you discover your writing team, take the time to get to know everyone. Spend lots of time together so that you truly become a team. Whether you communicate in person or over Skype, you can still build a fantastic team with practice.

Conclusion

 To discover your writing team, you must look for people who share your ideas and spend lots of time with them. You must take care to foster a creative writing environment where all of your team members feel valued and accepted. Over time, you can build the solidarity that leads to an awesome writing team.

Once you discover your intuitive writing team, you will be able to create amazing pieces of writing. Two hands are always better than one, and four hands are better than two. Working with other people who truly get your ideas can help you think of things you never thought of before, accomplish more work in a shorter time frame, and address every part of the writing process, including areas you are not strong in.