Lean lessons from a freelance writer?

Believe it or not, there is a connection between freelance writers and production lines. In the freelance writer's world, orders can arrive any time during a 24-hour period with various deadlines and requirements. Loyal customers may have rush projects. And small projects often become larger than originally anticipated.

In addition, the recession is forcing many writers to accept as much work as possible to make ends meet. And with so many other writers out there, a writer must meet the client's needs without question. Otherwise, the client will move on to the next writer and repeat business will be lost.

All this makes the application of lean manufacturing principles an absolute must for any writer to be truly successful.

When I began freelancing, I would complete a large project before beginning the next one. This practice led to becoming overbooked. I would complete one project only to discover I was short on time to complete the next. Then, a client would need an emergency project, and I would have to turn down the work.

This traditional method also hindered the growth of the company. Very little time remained for adequate marketing, bookkeeping, and work/life balance. There simply had to be a better way.

And there was.

Lean comes through
Prior to starting my writing career, I was employed at a cabinet door manufacturing plant, which made the transition from a traditional platform to lean manufacturing. Production and profits increased while lead times and employee workloads declined almost instantly. If lean principles could work there, then I knew lean should work for freelancing as well.

Today, I rely on a two-part, lean-style schedule for juggling multiple projects. First, the daily schedule includes large segments designated for a particular role. The first four hours may entail clients' work. The last four hours might include two hours for marketing and an hour for bookkeeping. The last hour "floats." That is, it's broken into 15-minute chunks throughout the day to accommodate client calls and requests. This schedule rarely changes.

Each segment contains various projects and goals for the day. The two hours designated for marketing might include an hour of social media marketing, a half-hour for article marketing, and a half-hour set aside for traditional marketing practices. This schedule eliminates having customers wait an entire day for the next "writing day." Lean manufacturing principles truly shine when it comes to client projects.

The pay-off

Lean scheduling methods have resulted in numerous other benefits as well -- the reduction in lead times being the most apparent. While other writers book two to four weeks in advance, my application of lean manufacturing principles has shortened this time down to hours in some cases. This means projects can be completed ahead of deadline, which creates time for adjustments or last-minute requirements.

Further, the additional time created by the lean mindset has eliminated the pressure created by tight deadlines. If the demand and workload increases, I have time slots. If I need to add hours to my schedule, I still work far less than would be the case using traditional scheduling methods.

Also, quality has improved because I have more time available for editing, adjustments, and communication with the client. Finally, it's easier to maintain the delicate balance between work and home. If an appointment or event comes up during the day, the schedule allows for that, too.

Using lean elsewhere

Small business owners and entrepreneurs face the same issues. They can employ lean to ease the strain of their responsibilities by using it to determine how they control their own products and services.

It's a fact: lean can and should be applied universally — even within the world of freelance writing.

Source Angie Haggstrom is an online writing coach and head writer at Freedom Freelance, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada. She specializes in offline content as well as SEO optimized article marketing, Web copy, and press releases for businesses. She can be reached at 306.662.2239, .