Comments on: When Breaking Up is Easy to Do

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:13:16 +0000

Just had a commenter on AFW today mention that a new prospect is asking them to "rewrite." Ugh. When are people going to finally wake up and realize that unless the client is the original work's copyright holder, it's illegal for the writer to create a derivative work. Makes me wonder how many new writers are guilty of infringement just because they're naive and clients put them in that position. Inexcusable, and completely unethical. Good for you for not taking that one.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:08:44 +0000

Anon, if you post your real name and blog info here, we'll talk. I'm not in the habit of giving any blanket permission to people who won't tell me who they are.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:40:27 +0000

it was very interesting to read. I want to quote your post in my blog. It can? And you et an account on Twitter?

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:44:49 +0000

I am NOT a mind reader! This is the one I think I hate the most (outside of non-payment). The line, "You should've known that's what I wanted!" does not sit well with me. Sorry, I do not have, never have or ever will have the ability to read your mind. If you want it, then speak up. Need I say more?

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 14:06:23 +0000

Mine was an online health magazine. Besides taking 8 months to pay, I found the amount of research needed for the topics made the payment quite low.

It was pretty early in my freelancing so I was very naive. I couldn't believe they had the gall to seek me out after what I went through to get paid for the 3 articles I did for them.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:55:09 +0000

PS When they use the "weak grammar & structure" ploy, I point out the page number on STRUNK & WHITE and tell them to shove it.

There's a difference between "weak grammar & structure" and "house style", and usually it's their "house style" that sucks.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:54:10 +0000

I broke up with a magazine who not only wanted batches of articles at small fees, but I was only allowed (and then told) to use resources from affiliates/advertisers in the "articles."

Then, they took six months to pay me, and claimed they kept "losing" the invoice.

I was originally supposed to be a columnist for them, not a features writer.