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.

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.

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.

I worked for one trade that did the same thing. I agree – it can be a mixed blessing.

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.

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 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)

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!

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————————————————————-