Comments on: The Reliability Factor

By: Pamela Moeng

Pamela Moeng — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:22:24 +0000

As someone who has sat in both the editor's seat and the writer's, I can say reliability is a gem all around. There is nothing more stressful than waiting for work from a freelancer who is late unless it's being that freelancer who is late. It's a lesson best learned sooner rather than later. If you currently balance a day job with tbe writing, it is even more critical to be realistic about what you can and can not do. Gotta run – I'm on a deadline!

By: Maril Hazlett

Maril Hazlett — Thu, 05 May 2011 02:31:05 +0000

Congratulations on a successful conference!

I completely agree about not over-promising, and about (sadly) sometimes having to refuse projects if there's no space on your deadline calendar.

My strategy for reliability is to manage my calendar ruthlessly. I have become pretty good at estimating how many hours each project or article will take. Of course the unexpected often occurs - but the secret is to try and budget a little time for the chaos factor, too.

Ideally :)

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Wed, 04 May 2011 23:09:21 +0000

Lordy, I was so surprised when, maybe 5 years into freelancing I discovered that many writers were late delivering what they had promised. I decided that meeting deadlines was a skill I'd keep.

Later, when I edited magazines, the reliable ones were my stars.

Welcome home Lori, we missed you.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:51:34 +0000

I may be spoiled by some long-time clients who already know how reliable I am, and that they can trust my instincts when they have a sketchy idea and let me run with it. A newer client is the total opposite. They have a narrow idea of what they want and expect you to give a detailed progress report (down to how many times you've tried to call and / or e-mail contacts on the source list they provided).

Guess which clients wind up with me best work? I don't intentionally do less-than-stellar work for the micro-manager, but having someone look down your neck while you're working is never helpful. For the first article or two, fine. They're getting to know you. After a certain point they should trust you to do your job, well and on time.

I've had a couple of clients call me after other writers left them in the lurch. Why? They knew they could rely on me to get the job done. One editor paid me double to turn something around in one day. (Thank goodness it was a single-source profile and the guy was available for the interview on short notice.)

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:47:54 +0000

Here's hoping you're on your way home with more work than you can handle, Lori! I'll be plugging Writers' Worth Week on my blog. Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve this year.

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:35:03 +0000

BTW, Lori – I'm VERY impressed that you have scored enough business to carry through the rest of 2011. VERY inspiring – great job! 🙂

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:32:47 +0000

You know it amazed me to learn that something as simple as doing what you promise to do what be something that could set you apart from other writers. I assumed reliability in business is a given if you're a professional, but that's obviously not the case.

I like what Eileen said about her willingness to continue working with a writer who was upfront and honest about not being able to meet an approaching deadline versus a writer missing a deadline with no warning. If you're going to make a living doing this your reputation is important and following through on what you say is a huge part of building a positive, professional image.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:55:33 +0000

I do what I say I'm going to do when it's due. Period.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:10:26 +0000

I'll chime in here and second that motion on reliability. Now that I've moved into a position of Copy Director this year, I can say unequivocally that it is paramount. If someone is having trouble completing an assignment, I want to know as soon as possible. I'm here to help them if they get stuck, provide more info if they need it, and if for some reason they aren't going to make the deadline, I would like to know that so I can make other arrangements. I'd be far more likely to hire someone again who was honest with me about not being able to complete the job on time, than someone misses the deadline but finally turns in the assignment. I've been very fortunate this year in that the writers I'm working with are all excellent in this regard.