lwidmer | Words on the Page

Happy Resolution Day

Posted on December 15, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: So Long, Sweet Misery by Brett Dennen If you heard rejoicing yesterday, that would be me. Yesterday was an AMEN day. As I sat trying to get the meat of an article and two small projects completed, a favorite client came knocking with not one, but two projects due by the…

Freebies, Systems, and Busy Work

Posted on December 14, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: In Between by The Clarks Yesterday was fun. I managed one project before life interrupted. Because I work from home, I get tagged to let the work people in for appointments I knew little, if anything, about. This one was the annual termite inspection. It usually takes about ten minutes, but…

Surviving Weekends

Posted on December 13, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Wishing Well by The Airborne Toxic Event It was one of those weekends where I’m glad to be sitting here working today. Mind you, it was full of fun, but it was full. We met friends for dinner Friday night. Then we went out Saturday to the annual Firebird Festival to…

Top Five Writing Roadblocks

Posted on December 10, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 Still on temporary work sabbatical (meaning I’m not in the office) as I try to get projects completed before the holiday. Add to that my daughter’s college graduation next weekend(I’m so proud!), a holiday, and more marketing, and you can just take the…

Finding Inspiration

Posted on December 9, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: You’re No Good by Linda Ronstadt If you’ve not signed up for my semi-regular e-newsletter yet, go to the left of this post and register. I don’t use your info for anything beyond the newsletter, so your info is safe with me. You’d not know it by the posts, but I’ve…

The Domino’s Guide to a Tasty Career

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Ten Thousand Things by The Avett Brothers Busy day yesterday. Interviews in the morning and book work in the afternoon. I put up the “Away” message on my email and avoided. I have projects due and I needed the uninterrupted time. I was busy two nights ago putting together a last-minute…

Seven Things You Should Never Say to Your Client

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Gilian the Dreamer by Neil MunroWhat’s on the iPod: Hicktown by Jason Aldean For some reason I was thinking about George Carlin over the weekend. I was remembering some of his earlier stuff, which at the time we thought was drop-dead hilarious. I listened to a little of it again. It still…

Integrity and Writerly Boundaries

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David SedarisWhat’s on the iPod: Wishing Well by The Airborne Toxic Event Are they making weekends shorter these days? Not that we didn’t cram a week’s worth of things into two days, but Monday is here way too quickly. We had our meditation group over on…

Putting the Wow in Your Business

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Just Another Girl by Pete Yorn Yesterday was fruitful. I managed an interview, an outline of one article, and contact with a few folks regarding some potential work. Things are coming together, amen. Even managed a little holiday shopping, which means I now have just two people to buy gifts for….

What Your Clients Want (and Deserve)

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lwidmer

What I’m reading: Gilian the Dreamer by Neil MunroWhat’s on the iPod: Small Town by John Mellencamp Nice day yesterday – I actually had enough work to keep me busy through the day. It was refreshing. And now I feel back on task. And of course, I’m fretting imaginary deadlines. I have an interview this…

Devon Ellington

December 2, 2010

I expect:

-respect for deadlines

–excellent work

–no excuses

Sort of the same standard I have for myself when I pitch for a job!

Wendy

December 2, 2010

I would be looking for honesty. If you can't meet the deadline I requested, then just tell me right away. Don't wait until the last minute or rush through my project just so you can get paid quickly. If a problem comes up during the project, I would want to know asap. Don't just take matters in your own hands and assume what I might want. (unless, of course, I don't bother to get back to your emails.)

Lori

December 2, 2010

Excellent advice, ladies. 🙂

Devon, I think there's often a disconnect with writers and their clients. Writers tend to take an oddly adversarial stance, maybe having been burned enough to expect it (and don't we just draw that negativity to us like a magnet?), and they don't do what you and I do. They don't connect with the client long enough to really care about the person's needs or even care enough to do the job properly.

Wendy, so true. Getting it done quickly is evident in so many cases. (and it's why I don't care for content farm writing – obviously done hastily). And like you pointed out in your last sentence, there are exceptions.

Cathy

December 2, 2010

One of the best compliments (for me) that I received from clients was my professionalism. I didn't realize how important that perception was until two different clients expressed it.

I think it stems from a feeling that as freelancers we want to be taken seriously as the professionals we are. It works both ways and many of the traits you listed here, Lori, will get us that "professional" compliment.

Lori

December 2, 2010

People are tired of writers not giving them their full attention, Cathy. I remember one of my first jobs at a large newspaper where I was called back repeatedly by the editor. Why? She said, "You're reliable." At first I thought "Great, I can't write and this is all she can think of to say." (I was young and insecure) But then I realized exactly what she meant – I gave her what she'd asked for in the timeframe she'd expected it.

I'll take that. 🙂

Kimberly Ben

December 2, 2010

I agree with what you said in your last comment, Lori. I've had more than one client complement my reliability (which is sad really because it should be the rule rather than the exception).

Lori

December 2, 2010

It should be, shouldn't it, Kim? But how often are we disappointed by service or reliability ourselves?

Paula

December 2, 2010

I want editors who respond to my questions. This week it took an editor three days to reply to a question I'd asked Monday, when the article was due. It wasn't even a difficult question, but in order to get the assignment in on time, I needed an answer.

I also expect to receive contributor copies. One place I write for stopped sending contributor copies when they beefed up their website. I understand that since they're looking for ways to cut costs and everything is viewable online. But when magazines that don't post articles online don't send contributor's copies, how much mileage can a writer get from those clips?

I also expect to be paid within a fair time frame. Today I turned down an assignment from a publisher for whom I've already written three lengthy articles. The new article would have be due during the holidays, which made it a no-brainer. That is the one time I year I actually do take a few days off work. I told them if they paid $1/word I'd find the time, otherwise it wasn't worth it. Yes, I can use the money, but they don't pay a lot and can take months to pay. I saw no immediate benefit to accepting the assignment, so I passed. And it feels good.

(You can get up off the floor now, Lori.)

Jake P

December 2, 2010

1) I always classify my approach as "being low maintenance." Deliver what's asked, without a bunch of friction.

2) Be pleasant to work with, no matter what's going on behind your own scenes. That includes being happy and upbeat when you hear from a client (fake it if you must), regardless of why they might be calling.

3) I know you're sorta born with a sense of humor or you aren't, but I know that my ability to "lighten the mood" has saved my butt on numerous occasions. Perhaps it sounds silly or simplistic, but people like to work with people they like. A little bit of charm goes a long way.

Paula

December 2, 2010

Jake – one of my mottos has always been: Never trust someone who doesn't have a sense of humor.

Why? Self-serious types have a way of making everything unpleasant. (Then again, so do people who are constantly searching for a laugh.)

Eileen

December 2, 2010

What Jake said.

Lori

December 2, 2010

Jake, I'm totally stealing that first point for tomorrow's post. I'm a thief, but I'm honest about it. (There's an oxymoron for you!)

I call that type of humor as disarming. It comes in handy, I agree. And you either know how to use it or you don't.

Paula, I'm with you. 🙂