When Hollywood portrays a writer or author, she usually works alone in a cold, dark office. In real life, writing is routinely also a solo “sport.” Like athletes running a marathon, content writers may have support along the way, but at the end of the day, it is up to the writer to complete the task herself.
Nevertheless, sometimes there are writing jobs that are too big for one writer to tackle alone. In content writing, it is not uncommon to work on a team with other writers. In these cases, writing becomes more like a baseball game than a marathon, with each writer contributing her own part to the team effort. If you begin a new project and suddenly find yourself singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” instead of “Eye of the Tiger,” reflect on these tips for how to work well with others and win one for the team.
- Equipment Matters – Just like a major league baseball team wouldn’t have as much success using Whiffle Ball equipment, you can’t properly complete a team project without the right software. Make sure you have a way to confer over problems between the team (such as Skype or another conference program) as well as a platform that allows for working cooperatively (like Microsoft Office or Google Docs.)
- There is No I in Team – It’s a cliche, but for good reason. Always think about the big picture and what is best for the team. It is difficult for those who are used to working alone to work collectively, but remember your ideas are no more or less significant than anyone else’s are.
- The Best Offense is a Good Defense – Prepare for problems before they occur. Think about what problems may spring up over the course of the project. If you plan for them ahead of time, you will be less likely to stumble when you are running for home plate.
- Look to the Coach – While your team may all be equal contributors, it is imperative that someone takes a leadership role. At times, a project may have a project manager assigned or it could be something that you decide upon as a group. Either way, it is necessary to have a designated leader to settle disputes and make final decisions.
Being part of a team can be a nice change from the long days of pushing through a marathon of writing alone. It just takes a little getting used to being a team player. Don’t stress, and make sure you have team meetings when necessary and you’ll get some “wins” before you know it!
Tracy S is a content writer and blogger who specializes in home improvement related topics. When she’s not working, Tracy loves playing pool, watching cheesy reality TV, spending time with her family and dreaming of the beach.
