As a writer, most of the work you produce will come from you sitting alone at your keyboard. You make the decisions, and you execute the decisions based on your own timeline (and motivation level).
But, there will be times when you need to work with other creatives:
Brainstorming story ideas
Working with a cover artist
Working with an editor
Working with a videographer (book trailers)
Working with a graphic designer (bookmarks, logo, etc).
If you’re like me, you want to do it all on your own. I can make an okay cover, but when I give it to a professional, it becomes so much better.
Here are a few things to remember when collaborating with other creatives:
They probably don’t care about the project as much as you do, and that’s a good thing. It’s okay.
Things will probably come back slower than you want them to. People are busy. And if you’re not paying them well (you should be paying them SOMETHING), you can’t expect them to drop everything and work on your project.
Have multiple things going at once so while you’re waiting for the cover artist to finish, you’re still working by outlining the next book or editing.
Always give the people who helped you a free copy, even if you paid them. They spent their time and used their skills to help you create your art. That’s no small thing.
Jump. Build, Fly.
F.C. Shultz