Christine Hastie

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Collaboration
      • Collaboration Tables
      • Creativity
    • Collaborative writing
      • The 10 Laws of Collaborative Writing
      • Writing Processes
      • Writing & Editing
  • Leadership
  • About
    • Services
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • Writing your way
  • Home/
  • Leadership /
  • Model 2 – The writing shop
Writers' hangout

Model 2 – The writing shop

Christine November 12, 2013 Leave a Comment 2193

Our second model of writing process shows a group of writers working together to produce documents for the organization. On the surface it may seem that nothing is wrong with the writing shop model. One problem is that the shop may be just a collective of lone writers.

The writing shop is a group commonly found in organizations. It can get a lot of writing done, but does it meet all the needs of the organization? Often, it is a collective of lone writers who divide up the project assignments.

The writing shop is a group commonly found in organizations. It can get a lot of writing done, but does it meet all the needs of the organization? Often, it is a collective of lone writers who divide up the project assignments.

Other characteristics of a writing shop is that they develop proficiency in developing documents of a certain type for the organization. They tend to specialize in one perspective or way of looking at the organization.

The organization likes the writing shop because a lot of text is produced relatively quickly. It’s secure for  intellectual property because the writers are generally in house or bound by agreements. They all use the same tools, and have accumulated a large database of documentation which they can reuse, recycle, and repurpose.

If you’re not counting on innovation and shared learning

As long as no other type of document is needed, this approach can be efficient. What if the documents are a little stale, if the world changes, and if the organization and its documents can’t adapt to the shift? When something new or different is needed, it is generally an emergency. We ofte find out too late that a new message was needed.

There is no real foundation in a writing shop for this kind of innovation. Writers focus on their expertise: writing. They hear about organizational change but don’t engage in it. The reasons for this objective stance probably have many different roots in the organizational culture, or the training that writers have.

Whether or not a document produced by a writing shop is approved, there is no guarantee that it will continue to meet the organization’s needs, commitments and goals in a dynamic environment. Any  potential benefit to the organization is lost when the writing shop manages all text production. Silos are created and reinforced. Quality and evaluation measurements are difficult to put in place retroactively.

Let’s fix it

There are remedies for this situation. It may take some time, but adopting a collaborative model for writing projects can help. By using interdisciplinary teams to prepare documents, the organization will break down silos, encourage interdepartmental learning, and be at the forefront of innovation in its field. Staff engage in shared learning and understanding—of things like roles, responsibilities, risks, and rewards—will  find the experience in a company they are dedicated to becomes rich and fulfilling, with opportunities for growth. Make this transition with your team’s help, and consult a facilitator.

Photo credit: Karen Roe via photopin cc

Christine
2013-11-12
Tags:
approval process building documents business writing project collaborative writing essentials document development group writing quality measurements writers writing project management writing roles writing shop writing skills writing strategy writing team writing team integration
Share story:
← PreviousModel 1 – The lone writer: A lose–lose situation
Next →Model 3 – Collaborative teams

Written by Christine

Christine Hastie specializes in coaching writers, collaborators, and teams to success. Working in creative, technical, and therapeutic fields, she guides people to find their true message, especially when producing written resources that advance knowledge and help others.

View all articles by Christine

Website: http://christinehastie.com

Related Articles

  • Are all team members on the same collaborative page?

  • Listen, sculpture by Tom Nussbaum, photo by

    Listening: A key skill for collaboration

  • Photo by The Guy with the Yellow Bike via Flickr CC

    Collaborate better: A guide for teams and partners

  • https://www.flickr.com/photos/milkinst/8492406177/in/photolist-3zTN9o-nDpJzB-9qouUP-dJPgZ-dWrNua-4sKMRN-8VT1ag-oMx1dV-32nsDp-fk5WLw-6Dm7NH-fbgKQD-guqDo6-qJxhra-9AgnCU-babH34-m7QSkc-gurUdz-cVU8Bd-guri3U

    Great Collaboration Tables 1 – King Arthur and his Knights

  • Collaboration and what we can learn from slime mould

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Social networks

Subscribe To My Newsletter

Recent Posts

  • Are all team members on the same collaborative page?
  • Listening: A key skill for collaboration
  • Collaboration, Crowdfunding and Kickstarting a Project
  • Collaboration Tables 3: A Chemotherapy Room Table
  • Collaborate better: A guide for teams and partners
You can use WP menu builder to build menus

Copyright © 2014 Pratico, All Rights Reserved.