Managing Multiple Writers on a Bid: How to Make It Work

If I had my way, every bid would have a single writer. It keeps things tidy, consistent, and efficient. But in the real world, that’s not always possible. Sometimes the scale, complexity, or timeline of a bid demands a team effort. So, how do you manage multiple writers and still produce a high-scoring, cohesive submission?

Why You Might Need Multiple Writers

There are valid reasons for bringing more than one writer into the fold:

• Time constraints: The bid is simply too large for one person to complete within the available timeframe.

• Specialist sections: Some parts of the bid, e.g. social value, finance, or technical delivery, may require subject matter expertise that another writer is better equipped to handle.

When done right, multiple writers can bring depth and breadth to a bid. But it takes planning.

Set Ground Rules Early

If you’re going to have multiple writers, you need to set the tone and expectations from the start. Here are a few essentials:

• Abbreviations and naming conventions: Agree on how terms, acronyms, and client names will be used.

• Structure: Define what each section should include. Will every answer have an introduction? A conclusion?

• Consistency checks: Assign someone to review for consistency in tone, messaging, and content across sections.

These ground rules help ensure the final product feels like one voice, not a patchwork of styles.

Be Aware of the Drawbacks

While multiple writers can be a necessity, it’s not without its challenges:

• Style differences: Everyone writes differently. While this doesn’t necessarily cost marks, it can be jarring for an evaluator.

• Inconsistencies: Without coordination, you risk conflicting messages or duplicated content.

• More to manage: More writers mean more coordination, more reviews, and more potential for misalignment.

That’s why it’s crucial to weigh the benefits against the overhead.

Conclusion: Only Do It If It Adds Value

If you can avoid using multiple writers, then please do! But if it is necessary due to time or expertise, then do it properly. Set clear expectations, communicate regularly, and ensure someone has oversight of the whole bid to tie it all together.

A well-managed team of writers can still produce a winning bid. Just make sure the process is as strategic as the content itself.