Comments on: Raindrops on Roses?

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:31:33 +0000

Oh, I hate that one, Eileen!

They redeemed themselves, Paula. Good!

Easy drapery clothing, Wendy - a hole cut in the center of the drape. Stick head through. Wrap a belt around your waist. Work it like you're meant to wear it!

Love your "work from home" one! I worked from home all this month. Grossed $6K. I bet they're not paying that!

Oh thanks, Paula. Just the reminder I didn't want! (Payback for the ear worm?)

Diane, I'm not a fan of the "Let's decide you're not getting paid that after the work is done" line, either. I usually tell them that after they pay the invoice we'd agreed on, they can find an enthusiastic beginner - and good luck. I don't want to work for people who don't value what I bring to their projects.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:03:35 +0000

I think you just about covered all of mine too. Although the best one was (after contracts had been exchanged, fees agreed, deadlines met, and me fulfilling my side of things): "Why should I pay your extortionate rates when I have hundreds of enthusiastic amateurs prepared to do it for nothing?" Hey, buddy. Think about that next time and cough up.

I always have my tax reference in the permanent print on my invoice.

I always send invoices by email AND snail mail.

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:16:41 +0000

Adding to Wendy's comment: A good reply might be, "Yeah, but working from home is actually more expensive, what with overhead, health insurance, taxes...."

Crap. Taxes. I knew there was something horrible on my To Do list this weekend.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:45:20 +0000

I just thought I'd thank you for putting the raindrops on roses song into my head. I've been singing it most of the day now. At least I haven't tried to make clothes with the drapes yet. Good thing, since I can't sew worth a hoot.

Anyway, my least favorite things do include your list, but I would have to add this:
"It's okay that we pay low, because you get to WORK FROM HOME!!!!!" I know I've said it many times before, but that's something that gets on my nerves. I don't see how working from home is some huge benefit that one could allow pittance for pay. It's great to write from your home office, but wake up- it's not a trade for lower pay.

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:55:25 +0000

A quarterly publication that says, "We pay withing 45 days of publication." And then pay about two months after publication, and only because you've hounded them and pointed out they've already exceeded their own ridiculously long timeline.

(This is true: I wrote the article in October, it was published the first of December, and I was paid in the middle of February. Oh yeah - the accidentally put in a different writer's byline instead of mine.)

But unlike some of Lori's examples, this place finally did pay up. They also sent a .pdf with the correct byline in case I wanted to use it for a clip.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:33:29 +0000

"If you can work with this on this one and lower your price, we can send a lot of business your way."