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Pumping Up the Blog Roll

Posted on by lwidmer

I’m out the rest of the week here – don’t fret. I’ve posted well in advance to keep from leaving you guys with nothing to do but work in the mornings. While I had some spare time, I went over my blog roll and did some housecleaning. I added some new blogs to the list….

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On Days When Lori is a Big Old Dork

Posted on by lwidmer

I had quite a week this week. I completed interviews and writing for a fantastic article on nurses with addictions. Handed it in on time and everything. Only….I’d contracted to write a story on drugs that combat addictions. Oy and vey! said this Irish chick. I spent the better part of Wednesday and Thursday fixing…

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Now You’re Talking!

Posted on by lwidmer

I can’t believe we’ve worn through 30 more days already! In keeping with my attempts to see what you like to read, I’m once again revisiting those topics that had you commenting most. Here’s what we discussed last month: Lots of Work, Little Cash. Ooo, you liked this one! It seems everyone has had to…

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Goal!

Posted on by lwidmer

With all this talk about goal setting and achieving these goals, it occurred to me that maybe you’re not quite sure how to define your goals. Look, my goals are simple ones – make XX dollars by YY date. Anything more complicated than that is going to give me a headache. And maybe you’re into…

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If You Answer to No One, Is That a Good Thing?

Posted on by lwidmer

I’ve seen a few blogs recently that have asked very specific questions – only to be ignored. Not surprising. The questions, you see, are ones of accountability. Amanda asked What About Your Writer’s Resolutions? and then she waited. Two of us commented. Not exactly total silence. It sure faired better than when I asked how…

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Blog Love

Posted on by lwidmer

Amy Derby has a neat post up about blog etiquette. I agree wholeheartedly with her assessment of reading/commenting on others’ blogs out of some skewed sense of reciprocation. Given the number of blogs I follow, that’s way too much time taken away from work I should be doing. Besides, not everyone has thoughts that inspire…

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Read My Guest Post on Biz Chicks Rule!

Posted on by lwidmer

Thanks to Bridget Wright over at Biz Chicks Rule for inviting me to post recently! The post is up. Please visit and leave a comment!

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They’re Just Not That Into You

Posted on by lwidmer

Rejection sucks. Losing sucks. Not knowing why can drive you completely out of your mind. So why worry? Because you’re human. Kudos to Anne Wayman for once again baring her soul about her being left off the Top Ten Blogs for Writers after occupying that list for two years. Anne stepped outside her own comfort…

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Speak Up Already!

Posted on by lwidmer

Know what the biggest problem in any company is, the largest obstacle to success and the primary cause of failed business, failed projects and failed earnings? Communication. You know it yourself – your biggest issues stem from either lack of communication, miscommunication, or misunderstandings surrounding communication. I know in my own career, I’ve watched large,…

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Truth or Dare?

Posted on by lwidmer

Time to ‘fess up – do you collect deposits/fees from every single client every single time on every single project? If so, you don’t write for magazines, do you? There are times when you just can’t. Magazines pay on acceptance or on publication. If you think you’ll get them to change their payment schedule, good…

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  1. it's me Avatar
    it's me

    hi….this is jitendra i dont think that any work can ever be combersome….ok….even it was all about a nice one…

    Reply
  2. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Namaskar, jitendra. Actually, I said it was cumbersome to try collecting an upfront fee when the client is a regular client and has a short deadline.

    Work CAN be cumbersome sometimes. Just try writing an insurance law course! LOL

    Reply
  3. Leigh Avatar
    Leigh

    I am a sucker, and frequently back down from my “no deposit, no work” stance. I have one client who I never require a deposit from; he has proven himself to be very trustworthy. He usually pays within an hour of me sending his completed work, and never more than a few hours later. I also don’t do large projects for him; my biggest project for him so far has been $360. If it were $1,000 or $2,000, I would be getting money up front.

    Another client of mine has been asking me to do work for his clients. I said ok, but you need to pay me up front, and got a very offended-sounding, “what, you think I won’t pay you?” It’s not that I don’t think HE’LL pay me, but I don’t know his clients and their payment habits. If I do the work and then they don’t pay, then he’s going to end up paying me out of his own pocket, and I don’t want him to get resentful.

    Reply
  4. Devon Ellington Avatar
    Devon Ellington

    Business clients, web clients, newsletters, copy editing, new clients, individuals for coaching, critique, or editing — upfront strictly enforced.

    Magazines and other publishers — you know the guidelines going on, you’re expected to bend to them, not the other way around. Like you said, Lori, they won’t change their guidelines to suit you; there are 1000 other qualified writers lined up behind you.

    I do sometimes define the payment terms — I recently broke with a publication who “paid on publication” but held my articles for up to two years.

    So now I put a time limit on it.

    Scripts, plays, some book projects — you can often work out staggered payments depending on projects and timeline — it’s case-by-case, and you have to know the end plan before you know what to ask for upfront.

    Reply
  5. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Devon, great point. I’m in the habit of giving them 6 months to publish. If there’s no word and no promise, I withdraw the article and submit elsewhere. Luckily, that’s only had to happen once. You don’t need to mention the policy – just enforce it if the time comes. They cannot hold on to it indefinitely, and it’s typical industry practice for writers to write and withdraw if the publication takes too long.

    Reply
  6. Lori Avatar
    Lori

    Leigh, tough nuts if he resents! It’s up to him as the hiring contractor to ensure payment to you, the subcontractor. His feelings be damned, frankly.

    Reply
  7. Jennifer Williamson Avatar
    Jennifer Williamson

    Always 50% upfront payments for new clients, and I’m starting to move toward 100% upfront payments for small projects (under $500). So far I haven’t had any pushback.

    For a select few trusted regulars I do monthly payments under a contractual agreement. I’ve never had trouble with it but it did take a little while to build up that level of trust.

    Magazines and newspapers are what they are; ditto what Devon said.

    Reply
  8. Dana Prince Avatar
    Dana Prince

    I’ve been lucky for the most part in the last 2.5 years except for with two clients. New clients I take 50% up front or 100% up front if it’s a single article or very small order.

    I’ve not dabbled with magazines yet but that’s a 2009 goal. But six months? I’m not sure I have the patience. (LOL)

    For clients who’ve proven trustworthy I invoice on completion. I work for a few SEO companies and a writing agency that has weekly billing policies which are fine because I’ve worked with them for a long time and never had a problem.

    I have been bitten in the past as well so I have a client with up front only due to previously breaching my trust more than once.

    They’ve tried to worm their way out of pre-paid orders several times but I know better and am willing to let them go rather than fight to get paid for months on end so they stick around.

    Dana

    Reply
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