We all have them – those things we hate to do, hear, or deal with. One of my writing friends loathes hearing a PR person ask for a copy of the published article, mostly because it requires her to get in touch with the editor, trace it back to the issue it appeared in, and ask for delivery, then follow up. A lot of work. (I’ve got a work-around for that one – when they ask, I supply the contact info for the editor.)
My peeve is similar – cannot stand it when a contact asks to review the article prior to publication. In most cases, that’s just a big fat no-no due to editorial policy, but inevitably someone who doesn’t know better (and shouldn’t know – it’s not their industry) will ask. In that case, they’ll get their quotes in context for review, and I supply those happily. But it drives me absolutely nuts when I come across that one person in a thousand who won’t accept that and will insist – once very rudely – that it’s his/her way or the highway. Not exactly the way to get what you want – by threatening not to “allow” publication of an article you don’t own in a magazine you also don’t own.
That’s my biggie. I have others, like the very occasional contact who will have his or her friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. review my work and now expect me to deliver his product EXACTLY how 12 other people want to see it. Impossible task, but this work-around is a clause in the contract that voids it should a third-party review be introduced by the client. Hate to do it, but it’s a no-win situation when you’re now forced to please not just the client who’s paying you, but the friend who suddenly thinks he’s an editor and has no vested interest in the project beyond wanting to show off and stroke the ego.
Another peeve – people who see one thing wrong and suddenly everything is wrong. Look, I’ll please you, but you have to calm down. In one case of the entire piece being “wrong”, I worked with the client and found that one sentence was the problem. Hardly cause for an entire rewrite, eh?
What are yours?
I have to say my biggest writing peeve is responding to job listings on CL that turn out to be scams. I don't even get that pissed when people write me back and say they only pay 2 cents/word…it's the ones that are just trying to get me to sign up for their service (which usually involves money) that really annoy me.
Actually, here's a new one I just received today.
Dear krista, Unfortunately, we could not hire you this time, but we have to offer the following suggestion to you. We could see that you must improve your CV much more and write it effectively, and we do not recommend you to get someone to write it for you since it can cost you a lot. The cheaper alternative is to do it yourself. You can get help at, http://www.bittylink.com/85 That is not a service, rather, it allows you to create any number of resumes automatically, just like a professional resume writer would do for about $400. Hope this has been of help to you. Thanks & Regards, Simon Andrews————————————————————-
Hi Lori.
Hate, hate, hate when people who know better (like PR people) ask to review their copy. My standard response: “I’m a freelance writer, and every publication I work with has a different policy on that issue. I’ll let the editor know of your request, and if it’s possible, I’ll let you know.”
That’s sort of a fib because I tell editors about the request only when I think the person will be a pain, when the editor might actually consider allowing review, and when I think the material is technical enough that a review might be wise–which is almost never.
It also irritates me when PR people repeatedly ask me if the article’s been published–after I’ve already given them a link to the publication’s site and they could check themselves!
Finally, I really don’t like when editors ask follow-up queries that they never asked to be in the original article and that I know will result on the cutting room floor. Oy.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!
Lori, nice work-around for the third party opinion problem!
I actually wrote for one periodical that wanted me to send the entire article to the interviewee. I wrote three articles for them. The first two, that worked out okay, but the third one was a nightmare. The interviewee had dabbled in writing herself and fancied herself an editor, so instead of just okaying the quotes and facts, she sent my copy back riddled with revisions. Then she emailed me a week later to complain that I didn’t include anything about her husband. Well, 1) it wasn’t relevant, 2) you didn’t talk about him, and 3) why the heck are you contacting me about it after it’s already gone to press??!
That was the last time I ever sent an interviewee the entire article to review. Now I fact check by sending them quotes in context, like you do.
Another pet peeve — clients who contact me about a PR and want it yesterday. I have one client that is always getting on my nerves because they are like that. They release the product, and then think, “Oh, we should have done a PR for that.” Then they’re on my case the entire time about when it’s going to be ready. Oy!
Gabriella’s right… Venting feels good! ;o)
Krista, that’s NUTS! I hate these scammers.
You’re welcome, Gabriella. :))
Katharine, I have had the “Hey, I need this today, okay?” requests. In most cases, it’s not okay because I have other clients. While I do want to make them all happy, I don’t want to neglect a client who booked my time in advance for one who waits until the last minute. Not fair!
I write for a trade pub where we are REQUIRED to get sign-off from the source on every article. This is a good and a bad thing. It’s good because it ensures that I don’t screw up a highly technical quote. But it’s bad because they don’t understand editorial calendars and even when I give them a firm deadline, they think they can take all the time they want.
My peeve is when a PR person says they will help me and then doesn’t follow through. To me, that’s just bad PR.
Oh, that’s a good one, Susan! Yes, if they’re unreliable, they can’t expect me to want to work withh them again.
I worked for one trade that did the same thing. I agree – it can be a mixed blessing.
Here’s my peeve of the month: when clients hire you to write copy and then fail to provide you with the facts you need or a proper project description and then expect endless revisions as they modify the project scope. Grr.
Pet peeves:
Clients who advertise at one rate and try to negotiate back to a cheaper rate. I wouldn’t have answered the ad if you’d put in the cheaper rate. Don’t waste my time.
Editors who consider an “edit” running the piece through Microsoft’s Spell and Grammar check — both of which are awful — and then they ADD mistakes, such as “it’s” and “its” based on the poor spell/grammar check.
Cover designers who can’t be bothered to read any of the blurbs or other materials about the book before they design the cover. They have no concept of the book and then argue with you about it.
My *latest* major gripes are potential clients who drag out the courtship, stringing me along until I finally have enough information to present a proposal that includes prices–then drop me like a you-know-what, never to be heard from again.
I’m hanging here, not exactly reserving time for their job, but certainly wondering if they are going to hire me or not. I’d rather hear “not” than swing in the hot, dry wind, slowly dessicating.
Hate that one myself, Melissa. You want to please, but how can you if you don’t know what the entire project IS?
Devon, so far I’ve not come across anyone who has tried to renegotiate after the fact. How frustrating!
Georgeanna, that twisting in the wind is excruciating! I had one potential client hem and haw for months. Each time I’d give up completely, he’d show up. After the last time, I just figured hell with it. He never did hire me. I suspect the fit wouldn’t have worked. He may have been looking for someone to be decisive for him. Not knowing exactly what he was after, I don’t think that person was me.