Comments on: Bringing Down the Velvet Hammer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html a freelance writing resource. Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:12:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html#comment-3559 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:12:21 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html/#comment-3559 Katharine, it's how I stop the nonsense without pitching a fit. I'm sorta famous around the house here for my fits. It's the injustice of it all! LOL

]]> By: Katharine Swan https://wordsonpageblog.com/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html#comment-3552 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:34:03 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html/#comment-3552 What a great post — and good advice! I also loved yyour story of how you dealt with the third party. Offering to work out a new price and agreement is simply brilliant. 😀

]]> By: Lori https://wordsonpageblog.com/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html#comment-3551 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:47:06 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html/#comment-3551 What a good editor! I hate the bosses who tell you only the negatives. They get much more out of their staff with positive reinforcement!

]]> By: Paula https://wordsonpageblog.com/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html#comment-3549 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:16:45 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2009/08/bringing-down-velvet-hammer.html/#comment-3549 I remember the good/bad examples of "bad news letters" from a business writing course in college. The best letters always couched the bad news to soften the blow, just like your velvet hammer.

Sometimes when dealing with new clients it's easy to misinterpret a direction or suggestion. I know I appreciated it when one editor e-mailed me thanking me for writing a great article, then offered a suggestion for future reference (don't use italics). The way he approached it turned a minor criticism into positive reinforcement. "For future reference" meant there may be future assignments. Now they're one of my steadiest clients.

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