One of the most common concerns organizations have before hiring a professional writer is simple:
“How much work will this create for our team?”
The goal of Scott Flood Writing is to produce clear, credible content without creating unnecessary internal burden.
This page explains what information is typically needed to start—and what can be developed together.
The short answer
Most projects can begin with just four things:
- What you want to create
- Who it’s for
- What you want it to accomplish
- Who can answer a few questions
Everything else can usually be gathered during the process.
The essential information
1. The type of content
Examples:
- Case study
- White paper
- Service page
- Blog article
- Leadership or ghostwritten piece
If you’re unsure, a short conversation can help determine the best format.
2. The audience
Who needs this information?
- Prospective customers
- Existing customers
- Boards or stakeholders
- Technical decision-makers
- General business audience
Understanding the audience shapes tone, depth, and structure.
3. The goal
What should this content help you accomplish?
Common goals include:
- Supporting sales conversations
- Explaining a complex service
- Building credibility
- Educating prospects
- Launching a new offering
Clear goals prevent unnecessary revisions later.
4. Access to knowledge
This usually means:
- A short interview with you
- Or a subject-matter expert
- Or existing internal materials
Most interviews are brief and focused.
Helpful—but not required—materials
If available, these can speed up the process:
- Existing website pages
- Previous marketing materials
- Slide decks
- Proposals
- Notes or bullet points
- Competitor examples
- Articles you like
Even rough or outdated materials are useful starting points.
What you do NOT need before we start
You do not need:
- Perfect messaging
- Finished outlines
- Polished drafts
- Final positioning language
Clarifying those elements is often part of the writer’s role.
How much time will this take from your team?
Most projects require:
- One or two short interviews
- One review of the draft
- Consolidated feedback
Many clients spend less than two total hours of direct time per piece.
The typical kickoff process
Step 1: Clarify scope
- What are we creating?
- Who is it for?
- What does success look like?
Step 2: Gather background
- Existing materials
- Key examples
- Any required facts or data
Step 3: Short interview
- Fill in gaps
- Capture voice
- Surface real-world examples
Step 4: Draft development
You review and refine—without needing to start from a blank page.
What if we don’t have everything organized?
That’s normal.
Many organizations start with:
- Partial information
- Rough ideas
- Incomplete documentation
A structured writing process helps turn scattered knowledge into clear communication.
Who should be involved from our side?
Ideally:
- One primary contact
- One or two subject-matter experts
- One final decision-maker
This keeps feedback clear and timelines predictable.
The most common cause of delays
Not missing information.
It’s usually:
- Too many reviewers
- Conflicting feedback
- Unclear ownership
Assigning one internal owner solves most of this.
Frequently asked question
“Do we need to write anything before hiring a writer?”
No.
In most cases, starting from conversations and existing materials produces better results than starting with a rough internal draft.
Your time is better spent explaining than struggling through first drafts.
A simple way to begin
If you’re considering a writing project, you can start with a brief note that includes:
- The type of piece you’re thinking about
- Who it’s for
- What you want it to achieve
- Whether interviews are possible
That’s usually enough to outline a clear, low-stress next step.
The goal of the process
The intent is not to create more work for your team.
It’s to:
- Reduce internal writing burden
- Capture your expertise accurately
- Produce content that is clear and usable
- Respect everyone’s limited time
Next step
If you’d like to explore a project, send a short description of what you’re considering. You’ll receive a straightforward recommendation on scope, timeline, and what information would be most helpful.