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From the Periodical Writers' Association of Canada The Next Best Thing To A Clone:
Ann Douglas : Sometimes subcontracting your work to others can create more problems than it solves. That's why it's important to go into any subcontracting arrangement with your eyes wide open. Here are some tips on making sure that your subcontracting arrangements ends up working for-not against-you. - Make a list of the types of jobs you could potentially subcontract
to someone else. If you're months behind in your filing and you
can't remember the last time you keyed a cheque into your accounting
program, it's probably time to think about bringing someone in to
help you stay on top of your office chores. If, on the other hand,
you're trying to juggle an insane number of writing projects, you
may need some help on the editorial front instead. - Think carefully about the implications of subcontracting writing
work. It may or may not be advisable to subcontract this part of
your business. Are you willing to put your reputation with your
clients on the line for another writer who may-or may not-have the
necessary skills? (Note: Contracts with certain types of writing
clients may actually state outright that you can't subcontract any
work without their written permission. Remember: they hired you-not
just a reasonable facsimile!) - Decide what you can afford to pay a subcontractor. In a perfect
world, writers like you and me would be independently wealthy and
able to have an entire staff of underlings at our beck and call.
Unfortunately, the world is decidedly less than perfect-especially
when it comes to paying writers-so you'll need to be realistic about
what you can afford to pay and how many hours of someone's time
you can afford to buy. I typically pay $10 per hour for basic clerical
help but $15 per hour or more for research assistance. When I was
researching The Complete Guide to Canada in the '60s, '70s, and
'80s, I hired a university student to print out a series of articles
from the microfilm machines at Trent University. (Given the slugglish
pace at which this antique piece of machinery worked, I could have
wasted an entire week of writing time just dropping in quarters
and hitting the print button!) - Start looking for Ms or Mr. Right. Ask other business associates
to pass along the names of people who are likely to do a good job
for you, and then check the potential subcontractors' references
thoroughly. Ideally, you want to find someone who can do the job
well and who will be totally reliable. It also helps if they have
a pleasant personality-particularly if they'll be representing your
business. (The last thing you want, after all, is to hire the subcontracting
world's equivalent of the Employee From Hell.) Don't be surprised
if you have to do a fair bit of looking before you stumble across
Mr. or Ms Right-or if you have to hire more than one subcontractor
to help with different types of jobs. - Give yourself a time cushion. Don't put yourself in the hair-raising
position of having a subcontractor cause you to miss a deadline
with one of your clients. Factor in enough of a cushion that you'll
still be able to meet your deadline, even if your subcontractor
misses his or hers. - Consider asking your subcontractors to sign some sort of written
agreement with you that spells out to what extent they will be credited
for their behind-the-scenes research and writing work. (Note: I
always acknowledge the help of my research assistants in my books,
but it wouldn't necessarily make sense to promise a subcontractor
on a corporate writing job the same type of credit. After all, it's
not usual for writers not to receive any form of credit on annual
reports, corporate brochures, and so on.) - Pay your subcontractors promptly. The best way to earn their undying loyalty-and to ensure that they squeeze in rush jobs for you in future-is to issue their cheques right away. (Who ever said that money can't buy you love?!)
Published in Sources, Number 45, Summer 2000.
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