Comments on: Saving the Project

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:22:11 +0000

Well, considering the wording of the contract for the article, she could argue it was the same assignment. I believe the description was "800 words, Handmade Holiday Gifts."

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:30:01 +0000

Send her the final invoice, Anne. I bet that project takes a front seat after that!

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:38:16 +0000

The one that bugs me the most is a ghostwriting project for a great gal… I've actually done 2 books, each only about 3/4 finished… I've been paid for all the work I've done and she's dropped both books, as near as I can tell, completely. I've done my best at communicating and nothing… so I've mentally let them go. No other choice short of stalking her I guess.

But most clients are great… and this one is too… just can't get her book finished.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:38:19 +0000

Paula, that sounds more to me like a new assignment. Had you been faster to see that, you could've billed her for that second project. But ce la vie - we've all tried to please and missed things like that.

I'm wondering if there's a planet out of whack with my ju ju. I'm seeing more complaints these last two weeks than ever in my career. I'm really beginning to think that taking some time away from the computer is a good idea...

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:11:06 +0000

The worst case is one I mentioned here before: First assignment for a new-to-me publication. Editor assigned a first person piece on handmade holiday gifts. I asked all the right questions, I even turned it in several weeks early to give the editor time to review it and get back to me if it wasn't on the mark. I told her I wanted to do my best to turn out exactly what she wanted. A few weeks later she got back to me saying she wanted something entirely different. Instead of the first person account, she wanted three examples of quick (30 minutes or less) gifts "anyone" could make, and links to websites with instructions. That wasn't remotely what she'd originally assigned, but maybe she'd had a sudden inspiration, so I played along. I explained 30 minutes or less was impossible for decent gifts, so we moved it to an hour. I totally re-did the piece, found three fun and quick projects which she approved. Turned it in. They paid full price. They never sent me a copy, and when I found it online I saw she'd re-written the intro and replaced one of the projects with something really lame.

I did more than most would do to try to please an apparently un-pleasable editor. Curiously enough, I recently noticed she's no longer the editor of that publication.

Sometimes all you can do is all you really can do.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:30:51 +0000

Exactly that, Devon. I've had a few projects in which walking away would have been the better choice. We learn the hard way sometimes. 🙂

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:03:28 +0000

Asking the right questions is hugely important. Because it is THEIR vision you're trying to project. Sometimes, it simply doesn't work, and you do the best you can, and move on. But at least, you try to give it a really good shot.