Words on the Page

Monthly Assessment – July 2010

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Mustang Sally by The Commitments I’m still in denial about July being gone. It didn’t end well, with a few frustrating moments brought on by people I suspect are fussing to get out of payment. I’ll drop them once again, only this time for good. I don’t play games, and these…

Why Writing is Sometimes Like Spaghetti Squash

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Something Good by The Airborne Toxic Event Back when big hair and shoulder pads were necessary accessories, Oprah and her personal chef put out this cookbook. The premise – if this woman could make Oprah skinny, she can make you skinny, too. In the cookbook was a recipe that used spaghetti…

Trust in God, But Lock Your Keyboard

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Karma by Alicia KeysWhat I’m reading: The Skull Beneath the Skin by P. D. James Yesterday I managed to get an article draft completed and worked a little on a press release project. I was able to get ahead of the work as I’m expecting a large project to come in…

The Client Collaboration

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: The Sky is Crying by Stevie Ray VaughanWhat I’m reading: The Skull Beneath the Skin by P. D. James It was a little coincidental that I was listening to The Sky is Crying yesterday – I wasn’t shedding tears, but tension is building in a current project. Remember the “We didn’t…

More on Finding Work

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Rosalita by Bruce SpringsteenWhat I’m reading: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson I love Allena Tapia’s latest blog post over on About.com. In it, she outlines how to be a profitable freelancer. Given that she herself has just topped the $100K mark, I’m apt to listen….

Weekend Re-entry

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Modern Leper by Frightened RabbitWhat I’m reading: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson Great day Friday – thanks to both Devon and Jenn for a terrific time. Meeting with you guys underscores the importance of having like-minded writers in your life. We get each other. Had…

How and Where to Look

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Cherry Bomb by John MellancampWhat I’m reading: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen Great day yesterday. I managed one small project, got an article roughed in, and started lining up interviews for the newly-scored article. And despite my fears, the government agency I had to talk to wrote…

Your Next To-do List

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Floating in the Forth by Frightened Rabbit Yesterday felt like a massive wheel-spinning. Playing dodge on the phone with interview subjects has never appealed, and much less so when I’m under deadline. So today is aggressive follow-up. By aggressive I mean I become more pushy and a little more of a…

Where’s the Kaboom?

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Handle with Care by The Traveling Wilburys I’m channeling Marvin the Martian today as I look back at yesterday morning. Really. Just the morning was weird, but what a weird morning. Like an unexploded bomb ticking away somewhere (hence the Marvin reference, all you Bugs fans). Flash back to Monday around…

Mixed Messages

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: I and Love and You by The Avett Brothers Yesterday was a bit of a challenge. I was sporting a whale-sized headache (sinuses yet again) and I finished a ton of work early enough to be tricked into thinking my day was over at 2 pm. Alas, the best laid plans……..

Valerie

I got the "but we didn't use it" excuse one job later. The client paid me for a newsletter article they didn't use, then pointed that out to me the next time they wanted to hire me. They felt it entitled them to a nice deduction in my fee. I held firm and got my full rate, but we never worked together again. So be it.

The only relationship it's hurt to turn my back on is with a graphic designer who has pulled some payment shenanigans. I like her clients but I had to say goodbye to them because she's too shady.

Paula

I won't rehash the incident in detail again, but I'm referring to the magazine I'd contributed 2-3 articles per issue for about 7 years. They went 11 months without paying for one article – they were "pay on publication" but kept bumping the piece and still hadn't paid 2 months after publication.

I never wrote for them again. The magazine changed hands (the owner even declared personal bankruptcy). A few years later he started up a regional magazine. I never pitched anything to them for obvious reasons. Then I discovered an editor I like and trust worked for them. She offered an assignment, we clarified the terms. I've done maybe 6 things for them over the past couple years. They're still slow to pay, but usually one terse e-mail from me and they hop right to it. The difference, as far as I can tell, is that the owner trusts this editor and listens to her when she tells him what he needs to do if he wants to put out a quality publication (which it is): He needs to treat good writers well.

even so – I try not to do very many things for them, and won't take on a second assignment until I've been paid for the first.

Now the true test: Will Blogger eat this reply, too?

Lori

Your comment lived, Paula! 🙂

You're smart to leave one foot outside the circle, so to speak. I think they haven't quite earned back the trust. The new editor is a help, but I'd bet there comes a point he stops listening to her, too.

Valerie, maybe that client will eventually drop her and find you again. I highly doubt she's being straight with her clients if she's not straight with you.

Eileen

I had a client try and pull that one me one time, but when I kept my cool and used an analogy to explain my position, they "got it." I explained that if they ordered custom cabinetry for their kitchen, and then changed their mind once it was already made, they still owe the money. Sure, the cabinet maker might be able to unload it, but it would probably take substantial effort and a huge discount to move it out of the warehouse. That custom cabinetry won't fit just any kitchen, much like an article written for one publication won't suit just any other pub.

Paula

I love your analogy, Eileen.

Wendy

That sparked the worst battle I ever had to face in my fist year or so as a Freelancer. An eBook written to specifications was rejected by the client, who claimed they no longer had need of it. They wanted to do something different.

They asked if I would rework it using their "new vision", but said they didn't want to pay extra for it. I declined and asked for payment. They didn't want to pay. After numerous emails back and forth, they inadvertently told me that they sent the eBook to someone else to be reworked. I explained that the rights to the eBook still belonged to me, and that they couldn't rework it, unless they paid for it. It took some time, but I did finally get payment.

That headache is what sparked me to start using a contract and to ask for partial payment before project started. The business relationship with that client ended as soon as payment was received.

Lori

Yep, it's official – Blogger hates me. My post was eaten!

Eileen, great post! It's like paint colors, isn't it? You can't order all of them mixed just to see if you like them – you have to buy them first.

Wendy, that's absurd! So you do the work, they don't pay, then they take YOUR book elsewhere? Glad they finally saw it your way.

Devon Ellington

Most of the time, when I'm done, I'm done. Clean, swift break, cauterize the wound, move on.

Sometimes they beg for me to come back. The contract terms are much harsher and the price is higher.

If there's no kill fee clause, there's a clause stating that the work is paid, whatever they decide to do or not do with it.

Natalia M. Sylvester

Thanks for a great post, Lori. There's such great feedback here I'd love to ask for everyone's opinion on my client problem, if you don't mind!

I usually bill half up front, half upon project completion. A few months ago I signed with a new client. They sent the deposit, no problem.

I include 2 revisions in my fees, so after I sent in the first draft, the client said it's great but they just have a few changes they want to request. That was about two months ago. I've called and emailed and each time they say they'll get back to me within a few days with requests for revisions, and that they're sorry it's taken so long.

At this point, I'd like to wrap up the project and invoice for the second half of the payment because I'd like to get paid (crazy, right?).

I've since changed my payment policy to be half up front, half upon delivery of initial drafts, so the client can take their time with revision requests and I'll still get paid. But I don't know how else to speed this process along.

Anyone ever had a similar problem? Any suggestions for how to handle it?

Anne Wayman

And don't write with a sinus headache… go to bed! No, I'm not your mother, but…

Lori

Natalia, I know how to fix it! Put a due date on that final amount. I had that once, too. The project went on for a year – a YEAR. I did manage to talk the client into paying me a few months before it ended (he was very nice and a great client all the way around), but I learned to put a due date because of that.

Depending on the project, I usually put 6 months out for a book and 2-3 months out for a smaller project.

Natalia M. Sylvester

Hi Lori, that's a great idea, thanks!

Wow, a whole year? That must have been so frustrating. I think 2-3 months for smaller projects is reasonable (and this project is reaching that point!).