Writers Are Not Crockpots*

This thing of beauty is available on — where else? — Amazon, which is also where this photo is from.

I haven’t offered a Tuesday Tip in a while, so I figured, why not tell the blogosphere what I’m thinking about today?

Here goes!

When pitching a new client, I share a value with them: "Collaboration."

It's really important to me that clients understand that when we work together, it's TOGETHER.

They can’t send me off into the wild blue yonder with a content calendar and think their job is done.

I tell them, "Writers aren't crockpots; you can't set it and forget it with us."

For me, that’s the only way I can truly get inside their head to extract their ideas and then reflect back on what I’ve heard in the writing.

Here’s what it looks like:

✅ We have brain-download sessions where I lean in and learn about the ideas and concepts they want to convey.

✅ They always have a say in the editing process, and I hold zero ego in it. I may push back if a comment is going to change their message, but I always aim to keep the dialogue open and honest.

✅ I tend to get all up in their business—literally and figuratively— to understand what their ideas are and what values are important to them.

I know I’m not alone here; many of my fellow writers have expressed similar sentiments about the importance (and challenges) of keeping clients involved in the writing process.

But I’m pretty sure I’m the only writer comparing the writing process to a kitchen appliance.

Maybe that means I’m not the writer for you, but I bet you learned a little about the writing process today, eh?

Want to learn more about the writing process? Then reach out! Email me at judi@judi411.com.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll find a metaphor for YOUR business in the process.

* Please note: I spell-checked this blog post about 400 times to make sure I wrote "crockpot," not "crackpot." I am well aware of my crackpot tendencies.