Comments on: Writers Worth: Publishers and Bad Business Models

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Sun, 25 May 2014 12:20:59 +0000

Ashley -- That came from their editor? Priceless. When clients are oblivious, there isn't always much we can do.

Jake -- Good for you for leaving them behind! It can be tough to ditch those easier, sure-thing clients. But when it's necessary, it's necessary. Out of curiosity, did you end up making the changes before walking away from them, or did you leave them to figure out their image mess?

By: Jake Poinier

Jake Poinier — Fri, 23 May 2014 15:55:42 +0000

I'm late to the party here, but I will shout a big "Amen!" Awesome stuff, Jenn.

Here's one that recently got under my skin: I've been a regular contributor to a magazine that's right at the margin of my pay rate, but it's generally easy to write and fun topics, so I just grind 'em out.

For the last issue, they weren't able to find a photo to accompany one of the 3 article topics, and asked me to write a replacement section. I responded, basically, "Sure, for another $XXX." And they had the cojones to claim that it was a "revision," which I agreed to in the contract. Didn't matter that it was their problem, not mine, that they couldn't get a photo, and that the original copy had been approved.

Yeah, I don't work for them anymore.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 22 May 2014 18:21:57 +0000

Ashley, don't you love it when they prove your point? LOL

By: Ashley

Ashley — Thu, 22 May 2014 18:17:04 +0000

Just read that link, Jenn, and shared it with my hubby whose co-worker asked me about the possibility of copy editing their publication. I quoted them, and they said it was high, which is ironically funny, because apparently they spend THOUSANDS of dollars on photography. My bid apparently came in higher than another person they asked, but the copy editing I outlined (I told them exactly what I'd be checking) seemed more "through" according to the email I got from the mag editor. Yes, that's right – "through." They must need me more than they think 😉

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Thu, 22 May 2014 14:34:53 +0000

Amen to that Lori!

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 22 May 2014 11:52:25 +0000

Jenn, I read that story -- thanks for the link. WOW. I agree most with the commenters, many of whom suggest that troubles began when copy editors were fired. When I was on staff at the magazine, the entire proofreading department was let go. Suddenly, we had no backup. We proofed everything twice, three times before publishing, but mistakes still got in because we were busy doing everything else. Proofing was important, but it wasn't our primary focus.

I agree with so many of the comments that say there should be a zero-tolerance policy for idiot managers who expect spouses and family members to be proofreading.

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Thu, 22 May 2014 02:43:30 +0000

Paula — That's crazy. Whenever anyone proceeds to tell me how "easy" my job should be, I consider it a sign that it's time to run. If it were so easy, they'd do it themselves.

And you'r right on about sharing. If it's worth sharing AND it's relevant to your network, you'll likely share it on your own anyway. But clients have no business trying to force the issue. That's what their own social media accounts are for. Haven't bothered to build a significant social following yet? That's their problem. Maybe they should hire you to help them fix that. 🙂

As for the "solicit your own editor" issue, one day earlier and I would have thought this was a sick April Fool's joke (still kind of hoping it is):

http://jimromenesko.com/2014/04/02/northeast-ohio-media-group-content-chief-institutes-a-zero-tolerance-policy-for-typos/

Eileen — It's never a bad thing to go a bit beyond client expectations. The problem is when they then change their expectations, increasingly wanting more without paying more for it. Hopefully it will never come to that with your client. In the end we can always work these requests into our rates if they become common enough (and if we want to take them on).

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 21 May 2014 19:33:40 +0000

I will say that for one client, I don't provide images, but I do suggest them. I write really long landing pages and images help support the copy. The client has an account at istockphoto.com. I go on that website, find images I think would work well in the copy, and give the client the image number. It doesn't take me much time at all, I enjoy it, and the client really appreciates it. It's an easy way to add value to my services for that one client. But it's an exception, and you can bet if it were more involved than that, I wouldn't be offering that service.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 21 May 2014 19:05:31 +0000

Excellent point, Paula. If they're requiring you to share, maybe they're not paying enough to attract better writers? Could be they are digging themselves into a pit.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 21 May 2014 17:34:30 +0000

The funny thing is, if you're proud of your work for a client you probably want to share it on social media. If they need to require writers to do that, chances are it's probably not something you'd want to share.

Several months ago I had an editor I'd worked with before try to assign me a "man on the street" piece that required the writer to photograph the sources when interviewing them. She even added how simple is was: just snap a pic with your smart phone!

I told her A) I don't have a smart phone and my digital camera is so old and slow I can only photograph inanimate objects, and even then I need a mini tripod so they aren't blurry. B) Even if I had a smart phone or better camera, I am the world's worst photographer so my photos would not be print worthy. And C) I'm paid to write articles, not take photos. If you want photos you'll have to take them yourself or pay someone to take them.

I've got to say I've never heard of a client asking a writer to find an outside editor to review their work. That's ridiculous.