Client issues | Words on the Page

How Frank Honesty Can Win Freelance Clients

Posted on January 3, 2019January 2, 2019 by lwidmer

I love the beginning of a new year, but not for the new-beginnings-and-resolutions-aplenty stuff. I love it for another reason — Potential clients reach out. The Christmas presents are barely opened before I start getting notes. It makes sense; people want to line up their projects and contractors now so that at the stroke of…

The One Freelance Writing Number You Need to Know

Posted on December 11, 2018December 10, 2018 by lwidmer

It started with an email from a local contact. They needed a writer onsite. Yea, that’s not happening. I declined, saying if the client needed someone on a virtual basis, I might be interested. The response: yes, they’re quite open to virtual arrangements. Except…. The time commitment and the pay; neither were going to work for…

The Response Your Freelance Writing Business Doesn’t Need

Posted on November 6, 2018November 5, 2018 by lwidmer

Today. Vote. Got it? If you don’t, you lose all right to complain, in my opinion. Had a great weekend, one in which I was able to meet Joy Drohan. She was in the area with her children for a sports event, and we met for lunch afterward. What a great person! Joy is someone…

Writers Worth: The Power of No

Posted on October 5, 2018October 4, 2018 by lwidmer

Don’t miss the next Writers Worth Twitter Chat! Join Paula Hendrickson and me on October 16th at 11 am ET using the hashtag #WWMchat Didn’t I promise you some Writers Worth love throughout the year? Here you go. Saying no. If you do an internet search on how to say no to clients, you’re going…

Getting Freelance Writing Prospects to Yes

Posted on September 14, 2018September 13, 2018 by lwidmer

Today, I’m out of here. I’m traveling back home for a final goodbye. There’s a memorial picnic happening in my father’s honor. The tent has been delivered, food has been made, photos printed. Tomorrow, the memories come out. Then on to Ontario. Somehow, it just seemed fitting to head to his favorite place after giving…

The Writing Client Interview (Theirs, Not Yours)

Posted on August 21, 2018August 21, 2018 by lwidmer

As I get longer in the tooth with this freelance writing business of mine, I’ve come to realize some truths. As your client is interviewing you, so too are you interviewing your client. That’s a big one, actually. It’s one a lot of new freelancers don’t recognize. It’s a truth that can take a ton…

Writers Worth: Getting More Client Respect

Posted on August 16, 2018August 14, 2018 by lwidmer

It’s been a nice, calm week. After going full steam for about four months, there’s been a break in the action. I managed to finish all but one project on my desk, and I’m waiting for a few more to arrive. What did I do with the time? Cleaned the desk, filed papers, figured more…

Your Freelance Rate Killers

Posted on August 6, 2018August 2, 2018 by lwidmer

I was writing a magazine article a while ago that, given the per-word rate — $1.25 per word, 1,500 words — was going to be a killer payday for me. Until I was 12 interviews and a complete rewrite in. That’s the trouble with some projects. The unforeseen can really hit your bottom line. Even magazine…

4 Freelance Writing Life Lessons I’ve Learned (that you can learn, too)

Posted on August 2, 2018August 1, 2018 by lwidmer

A while back, I had an uncomfortable interaction with a would-be client. It was negotiation time. I gave my rate. We discussed. We agreed on a slightly lower rate. Then the communication became dodgy. Very dodgy. They asked for something that sounded a lot like a freebie. I repeated their request back to them. Is…

Confusing Client Requests (& How Writers Can Handle Them)

Posted on July 31, 2018July 30, 2018 by lwidmer

It happens when I’m busiest. Probably happens at the same time for you. The client prospects start showing up in email, on the phone, and inquiring about your services. I’ve been getting quite a few lately (seems to pick up every year as August creeps up). Some are straightforward. Others are loaded with questions. Some…

Paula Hendrickson

July 31, 2018

A couple years ago a potential client sent me a contract including wording that would have made me liable for changes their editors made to my copy. Instead of signing the contract, I highlighted the passage and added a note explaining that it would be impossible to accept liability for things that happen AFTER I’ve completed my work.

The editor who’d sent it admitted she hadn’t even read the standard contract supplied “by Legal.” She agreed it was ridiculous and had “Legal” draw up a new contract for me. It didn’t have that clause and I signed.

I also had potential client send a one-size-fits-all contract that was really geared more to maintenance and repair contractors than content providers. I crossed out all points that didn’t apply to writing and editorial issues and sent it back unsigned. This place also sent me a more appropriate contract.

My guess? Some legal departments simple find it easier to create one or two all-encompassing contracts filled with legalese that are too difficult for most people to decipher (but not writers!) than to write separate contracts for different types of projects.

1. lwidmer
  
  July 31, 2018
  
  The company that sent it to me was a big one — and knew better. They didn’t move forward because I asked for the liability section to be revised. You’re lucky if your client saw the problem and corrected it. These guys didn’t think there was a problem. They didn’t want the liability. I figured it’s best they keep the work internal if that’s the case. 😉
  
  In a few cases, I have had clients who send standard contracts that don’t fit, and they’re quite happy to change things. The one time I did get burned on a contract was with ‘Teen Magazine decades ago (literally). They had a contract that stated one word — “minimum” — that ended up costing me $1500. They paid me for that “minimum” 500 words and printed the whole thing. And they never answered my letter pointing out that they’d used the entire thing without compensating me. Why? Because how it was worded (and it’s been years, so I’m fuzzy on what it had said) left them off the hook and left me high and dry.
  
  These days, with the internet, they’d never get away with that. If they’re even in business anymore.
2. Paula Hendrickson
  
  August 2, 2018
  
  I think the fact that I used actual logic on the potential client helped: Why would I ever accept liability for actions taken by others well after my copy has been handed in? I have no power to ensure their “corrections” are correct, and this is clearly a case of your legal team trying to shift staffers’ liability onto others.
  
  I also made it clear I wouldn’t sign anything that made me liable for the decisions of others—especially people I’ve never met.
3. lwidmer
  
  August 2, 2018
  
  I think how you phrased it is perfect, Paula. A question often allows them to see where the problems lie.
4. Devon Ellington
  
  August 1, 2018
  
  I’ve noticed, with some of the small book publishers, that when my agent and/or lawyer and I go through for negotiations, they say “we don’t negotiate” and expect me to sign a boilerplate. As far as I’m concerned, the initial contract is where we START negotiations. I don’t sign boilerplates.
5. lwidmer
  
  August 1, 2018
  
  Yeah, no boilerplate. That smacks of employer-employee relationship, not an exchange of professional services.
Devon Ellington

August 1, 2018

Where I live now, there are a lot of prospective clients who don’t believe you’re doing the work unless you’re in the room where they can see you. I don’t like to work that way. I don’t mind spending some time on-site, in their office, on particular projects. But I’m more productive on my own time, and I don’t charge unless I’m working. So having me in a loud, open space that curtails my productivity ends up costing everyone. So now I say no.

1. lwidmer
  
  August 1, 2018
  
  See, I’ve never understood that type of thinking, Devon. It’s a mistrust, or maybe the need to control that I believe makes some prospective clients demand the onsite work. It makes no sense, either. I can get more done in four hours than I ever did in an office for eight hours.