This shouldn’t be a tricky subject when it comes to creating content and showcasing as one’s own, but it is — because so many don’t understand that almost every major writing project is a collaboration.
For those who write speeches, op-eds, presentations and other longer-form content for elected officials, CEO’s, business clients and others, it’s virtually a given that at least two people — and as many as a dozen or more in some cases — have toiled together to create the final product.
From the standpoint of accuracy as well as plain honesty, it’s essential to denote on resumes, websites and elsewhere that a specific piece of highlighted writing is indeed a collaboration — not 100% your own.
One of my favorite recent pieces of collaborative writing was a NY Daily News oped by hip-hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy in support of cannabis banking reform.
It’s his piece in his voice, but from my initial interview with Fab and creation of draft one in July, 2022 — until it appeared five-months later in November — there had been about a dozen edits with at least three other colleagues adding, deleting or tweaking the language. Each step was an improvement. And then there’s actually placing the piece, requiring skill in its own right. Another colleague made that happen.
The point is that when I hear someone say they “wrote” a speech or op-ed for a CEO, Senator or other public person, I’m especially curious about the editorial process, timeline and to what extent the writer’s first draft remained in the final text.
And I’m especially interested in these details when considering hiring this person to partner on client content projects.
Hearing from the principal author to what extent others were part of the editing and creation process is a necessary part of content creation “forensics.”