I was commenting to my most advanced Dream Team students that there are several types of assistance that contemporary writers tend to need. I thought I’d share those ideas with you. Here they are:
A good editor (or several of them).
A good proofreader (or a readership that enjoys hunting down typos).
A graphic designer who gets you and can help you communicate what you offer.
An awesome agent, who is just an agent, and not twenty other things.
An e-book layout designer, who can bounce your quality content back to you in all available formats.
Tech/computer help/education, if you require it.
A bookkeeper and/or tax-prep help.
A flexible, supportive spouse or partner (whom you support back).
Children who create and engage in their own worlds/ideas. (You want them to grow up creative like you, right?).
Childcare providers (for children too young to create/engage in their own worlds).
Housecleaning/landscaping help if you can manage it. So you can do more of the fun stuff.
Publicist, Publicity coach or Publicity consultant/trainer (suggested by Porter Anderson)
I’m sure there are more I’m overlooking…more ideas?
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Super break down, Christina. Not to say breakdown. By my count, this is a staff of seven before you add in the family and without computer help. Sounds right to me. 🙂
Seriously, what about somebody who serves as an industry adviser in terms of your visibility? The kind of guide who can tell you if books scored with their own soundtracks are something really taking off (you may be surprised) or skip them until the next book? Video trailer vs. making-of documentary? Virtual blog tour vs. appearances at the YMCA’s speaking series?
Sort of a manager-of-marketing position, at least in terms of understanding all the options. Even if this person doesn’t drive you from one TV studio to the next for your big interviews or book signings, isn’t there a kind of professional/commercialist role to be engaged here? Do you see your agent doing this? Or do you try to assess and keep up with the industry’s incremental new wrinkles in PR, yourself? (So time-consuming.) I guess that’s what I”m asking about, at bottom. A PR person. Still a player? Or too old world?
And may I substitute a copy-editing dog for the spouse and children? 🙂
-p.
Thanks for #4, Christina, especially the way you’ve qualified it. I also concur with Porter Anderson that some sort of publicist is beneficial, if the writer can afford one.
Great thats nice great this wonderfull arrticle!
A warm dog who stays under your desk and keeps your feet warm while you write in the early morning, before your staff of 6 (babysitter, housekeeper, gardener, publicist, proofreader, and editor) come in to work. Er, before your husband gets out of bed and brings you coffee. At my house, there’s just me and the sitter on staff. 🙂 But the dogs do their best.
Oh yes, let’s hear it for housecleaning help.
Great list, Christina. I think getting an extra hour or two of “quiet time” daily is ideal for creativity purposes. Whether that means getting up early or staying up late…it all helps.