Needed: One Writer’s Assistant
There’s a difference between working as a writer and running a writing business. As Avenue Z Writing Solutions grows, I’m discovering I need to dedicate more and more time to simply keeping the business going.
I now spend a couple of hours a day (at least) just … umm… doing business things: answering emails, setting appointments, maintaining my blog, etc. And that doesn’t include the time I should be spending on marketing and organization.
This may sound crazy, but I’m hiring an assistant, or at least I’m taking the steps to hire one. I placed an ad on craigslist this morning, and I just received my first reply.
I’m asking for help for 4 hours a week. This will give me a dedicated person to help with my blog and website, follow through with marketing, assist with research and bug me about doing my billing and accounting.
One of the main benefits will be the peace of mind I’ll get by being able to get some of my tasks out of my head. When I’m relaxing in the tub or running in the evening or heading off to bed, I’m ALWAYS feeling guilty about things left undone. I have great marketing ideas I want to put in motion. I need to really clean up this blog. I have to update the samples and testimonials on my website. These little things drive me crazy and make it almost impossible for me to truly relax.
Side note — Productivity Guru David Allen’s philosophy is that these little nagging thoughts are what stop you from being productive. His book rocks!
Thus, I’m hiring someone. I’m justifying it because I’m no longer hitting the coffee shop every day, and, believe it or not, I was spending almost as much per month at the coffee shop as I will be paying an assistant. Yeah. I had a problem.
Cross your fingers!
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Beth on 23 Jul 2008 at 9:26 am #
Whoa! Almost 20 resumes so far… and the ad has been up for about 2 hours. Now what?
steph on 23 Jul 2008 at 9:50 am #
Yikes!
Do you have a deadline for the applications? I guess once you’ve collected all you want, you check out their experience and all that and then do a face-to-face, if possible. It’s easier to get vibes from a person in person. Are you having them work as a virtual assistant or in your offie? What ever happened to that ad you put out looking for an officemate, btw?
I don’t have the first clue, really, about any of this. I’m bad with trusting others. It takes a special someone to gain my trust (the way you have, actually. I’d pass writing to you any day).
Wow. Good luck!
steph on 23 Jul 2008 at 9:52 am #
Is it really only 10 am where you are? Man, my afternoon is gone already…
This morning I had about two hours of work left before I could make my notes to the proj. editor. Now I have an hour and fifteen left. Er, and that’s 5 hours later. It’s 2 now.
ARg!
steph on 23 Jul 2008 at 9:53 am #
To be fair, these endnotes are taking me much longer than I budgeted for. The editor was not consistent.
Beth on 23 Jul 2008 at 11:50 am #
Steph,
You had great advice, but I’m still impulsive. I talked to one woman, an editor for a community newspaper, and she’s coming Friday for a “first date” (as she called it). She wants to write for a living, and she’s organized, smart and free on Fridays, which is the best time for me.
I ended up with about 30 resumes, so I quickly took the ad down and wrote back to the other candidates. There were probably another three interesting ones in the group, and it’s a shame I couldn’t hire everyone.
If I fail to put up another post by Monday, I’ve probably been kidnapped by my new assistant. Please call someone.
Bryan on 23 Jul 2008 at 12:19 pm #
Don’t hire another writer; hire the business / marketing assistant you need. Hiring is the most important thing you do in a business -don’t be impulsive. Initially hire under a 4-week trial period, after which you both agree to consumate the deal or part ways. Be clear what you want done and give success criteria for the new person. People really do want to please. Then sleep well!
Rebecca Eberle on 23 Jul 2008 at 4:12 pm #
Darn! I was going to ask you if you’d like to meet for coffee.
racquel lyle on 23 Jul 2008 at 9:05 pm #
It is ok to get an assistant but make it sure that you will hire a very competent one. You will not waist money just to get nothing.
steph on 24 Jul 2008 at 7:10 am #
Hmmm, Beth, I like Bryan’s sound advice.
At the same time, it is only for four hours (so far). It’s not as though she’s going to be taking over. And it sounds as though you’ve gone with your gut. Which is a good thing.
steph on 24 Jul 2008 at 7:11 am #
Plus, if she wants to write, she will learn from you. It’s a win-win, if she’s a good fit!
yanet on 24 Jul 2008 at 10:26 am #
i must say it feels a little strange to read about yourself on the internet; i am the person with whom beth has a “first date” on friday.
to relieve any concerns: i will not be kidnapping beth, i have a husband, pets and elderly parents to take care of and i do not wish to add “feed the kidnapped freelance copywriter” to my list of things to do.
also, i am only an aspiring writer, in real life i have loads of business admin and small-business marketing experience. i’m clear that my job with beth is the business stuff and not the writing stuff. i just figure, as steph says, i can learn something from beth while making sure the admin stuff is handled.
bottom line is we’ll see how it goes.
Beth on 24 Jul 2008 at 10:35 am #
See, I told you she was smart!
Freelance productivity tips | Life on Avenue Z on 07 Aug 2008 at 9:52 am #
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