Comments on: The Importance of Contracts

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:04:56 +0000

Wade: I started mine from a sample contract & tweaked over time. I have not had it reviewed by a lawyer. There are certain sections that remain the same, but the scope of services, fees & timeline are customized. Of course, if it's the same type of project (e.g., ghostwrittten article of same length), I'll use much of the same language.

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:22:18 +0000

So do you have several skeletal contracts configured for each type of project? Or do you write up a new one each time? Do any of you have a lawyer look it over?

I've found with my magazine gigs that they usually present me with a contract.

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:13:42 +0000

The bulk of my work consists of articles, and the assignment letters serve as contracts. Everything is spelled out: word count, fee, deadline, and often how many sources they want for the story. (They'll also note what expenses the might pay for - usually long distance expenses, if that. But I won't invoice calls unless it's more than $5in one month or a particularly difficult or slow paying client.)

Next time I wrangle some ghost writing or corporate type work, I'll be using your tips.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:47:08 +0000

So agree - I never work without a contract. I have one client who always wants bare bones so in ghostwritten articles for them, the agreement is I do the draft and they do the editing.

They are one of those edit by committee (as so many corporate clients are) and they are always down to the wire for the deadline. So, I actually like this arrangement as it saves me the hassle of chasing them down and multiple revisions.

In my Statement of Work - in the Scope of Services - I list what services I will be doing and add Services do not include editing, layout design or final publication.

If a client with that arrangement asks about revisions, I remind them of the scope and advise I would be happy to do xx number of rounds of revisions for XX fee.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:47:07 +0000

Everything must be in writing. YOu have to think of any possible way they can wiggle out of their end of the bargain — because they will – -and spell it out.

No contract, no deposit — I'm not working.