Tips for keeping your writing team on track

by Molly Barret, editor Rebecca Reyes

July 21, 2010 | |

Program Liaison and Editor Molly Barrett discusses the key elements of bringing a team together to produce a successful discussion guide: who to include and what to do once you've gathered a team together.

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Today I'd like to talk with you about putting together a team to write your own discussion materials. So where do you start?

•    Bring together a team that's diverse and has 4 or 5 people who hold different views on the subject but can agree to join forces on this project.
•    Don't cast a so-called "expert" in this role. Too often experts can't bring themselves to consider perspectives other than their own. Include someone who likes to do research and gather facts.
•    Find someone who's willing to talk with leaders and community members from all parts of your town to find out what they're thinking about the issue.

Remember, it's alright if team members hold strong opinions about this issue, but they should also be open-minded. Their job is to find out what different experts think and to listen and find out what's on people's minds so that they can make sure that these different voices have a place in the guide.

Next, decide how you're going to work together:
•    Decide who will be in charge. Probably the writer, but maybe someone who's a really good project manager.
•    Lay out the project. Identify the different tasks and decide who will be responsible for each one. These are things like research and data gathering, writing, interviews and conversations with community people, editing, proofreading and copy editing, and designing and formatting.
•    Set up a timeline with deadlines. Be sure to allow time for reviewers from different parts of the community to give you feedback.
•    Consider your budget. How fancy or simple is this guide going to be? A Xerox or a formal publication? Will it be a guide for facilitators with a one-page handout for participants? Or will every participant get a complete copy of the guide?
•    Decide how you're going to communicate. You can do it by email or conference calls, but I suggest that you meet face-to-face once in a while.
•    Set up a meeting schedule.
•    Finally, throughout the process, pay attention to group dynamics. Make it clear that race, gender, age, and other differences must not create barriers to good communication.

Once you have your team in place and you've figured out how to work together, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. Visit the Issue Guide Exchange on our website where you'll find detailed instructions and a template to help you create your own discussion guide.

Keep in mind that this is an art, not a science. As you work on your guide, always keep your audience in mind. Don't overestimate what people know, but don't underestimate their intelligence and common sense. Trust the public, and trust the process. Good luck.