Words4TheWebwise – Copywriting and Website Design and Development.

Working With a Designer
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As a designer, working with authors, I have noticed a few things that we can all agree on that will make things go smoother. I work with wide range of clients in a broad array of industries, and each one needs a slightly different approach. All people are different and to be honest all people need different approaches. But when it comes to working with a designer, here are a few tips:
Figure out who your readership is first Who is it that your books appeal to? Think of age groups, income levels, social backgrounds, anything that would characterize the people who you sell to (yes, you're in sales). The target market of any piece is the first thing to consider as it affects the nature of the piece, taglines, language, graphics and layout.
Make sure there is a contract in place There are a thousand ways any contract can go, and when you put two creatives in a room, things can explode! So to prevent the ideas from bouncing off the walls and making collateral damage out of everyone and everything, draft a contract and stick to it. This keeps expectations realistic.
Be briefAuthors like to write, and most like to talk too. Unfortunately, when it comes to business communication, an anecdotal epic on exactly how you came across your latest epiphany may not be all that helpful. Brief and to the point wins the race!
Think outside of youWebsites, print materials and other design related items you use for business are really created with the end user or visitor in mind. The layout, usability and language have to appeal to them. A little objectivity goes a long way to making sure the arrow hits the target.
It's all about youWhile the target audience (readership) is the one you're trying to reach, you really are branding YOU. Think of what other people say about you and communicate that to your designer to give them an idea of what your brand really is.
Time and moneyRemember that the things that look simple are often very complicated while the things that look intricate and technologically alien can sometimes be very simple. For example, changing the colour of all headings in your website can take a few seconds, but removing one word from a printed document may take an hour to fix the domino-like typographical problems that it can cause. Ask your designer to explain what is involved in each step, but understand that spending 30 minutes on the phone explaining why a job took 15 minutes instead of 15 seconds is counter productive!
I hope this helps your next interaction with a designer, or indeed another creative professional, run more smoothly.  

I can be reached by e mail (Contact at nburmandesign.com) and Twitter (@nburmandesign). NBurman Design can be found online at http://www.nburmandesign.com and you can also visit my blog LifeImitatingDesign.