Comments on: Writers Worth: Undoing the Client Posse

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:16:03 +0000

In reply to DAVID D GEER. Great thought, David! Thanks for the suggestion. Look for it this week.

By: DAVID D GEER

DAVID D GEER — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 11:32:47 +0000

This post is rocking awesome, and I’m not surprised, Lori, you always bring the good stuff.
I have a selfish request: could you post an article with an example of a solid writer contract in its entirety? I could use it, and I bet some other folks could, too.
I’d even pay a few bucks if you want to throw it up for sale somewhere.
Either way, I’ll keep following your posts; their quite useful.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:14:05 +0000

I had a feeling. Isn't that maddening?

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:05:07 +0000

Exactly! The extra editor in this case even asked for clarification when that information was in the very next sentence!

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 18:19:35 +0000

I love your last line, Anne. Mentioning additional cost is a great way to send the message!

Paula, that's almost funny. I had that happen, too. A rather awful editor had overthought the small article and changed it so many times that she was asking me to prove a statement she'd made with information she'd crossed out when she made the statement. LOL Seven edits in, it was no longer my article. At that point I wanted to ask why she didn't just write it herself.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:57:47 +0000

The worst time I recall was my first (and only) article for a business magazine. My editor sent me the edited copy with questions, and the track changes function shows she and another editor had both made changes and were asking me for corrections to changes they'd made!

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 15:51:22 +0000

I suspect you're right, understanding exactly who is in charge and who will sign off gets rid of a lot of this nonsense.

That said, I've been known to say something like, "you know what? Your BIL may be right - what's his background in writing and publishing?"

"Oh, okay, then his expertise lies elsewhere. The real point is what do you think?"

Or "Well, since you signed the contract, you're the one who gets to decide. Remember after the third revision, I start billing by the hour."

And sometimes none of this works and you lose a client... whew!