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Writers Worth: Your All

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The last day of Writers Worth Month is here. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey of awareness and improvement. Today, the advice is simple: [bctt tweet=”Give freelance writing everything you have.” username=”LoriWidmer”] If you want to improve — really improve — your freelance writing career, you have to put the work…

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Writers Worth: Stopping the Runaway Project

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I was working with a client a number of months ago when this happened: Based on the notes provided, I wrote a draft. It came back — not what they wanted. I revised, based on the feedback given. It came back — not right. Harumph. Okay, pick up the phone. The conversation was enlightening in…

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Writers Worth: Taking Care of You

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What’s this? A post on a holiday? Don’t worry — the message is simple: Freelancer, give yourself permission to enjoy some down time. Today: Don’t check email. Don’t feel guilty for not getting a head start on that big project. Don’t schedule tweets. Don’t look over your to-do list. Don’t think about work. At all….

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Writers Worth: Changing Perspective

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Wow. Just a few more days to Writers Worth Month. Thank you for coming along with me as we celebrate our skills, abilities, and love for this wild ride we call freelancing. This month we’ve talked about a lot of things — from feeling worthless to calling bullshit to competing to convincing clients you’re worth…

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Writers Worth: Researching Your Next Client

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I hope you’ve found some useful content here this Writers Worth Month. Thanks again to all of the guests who have shared their thoughts and insights with us. They help make this a great annual celebration, and I learn something from each of them. I hope you do, too. Today, it’s just you and me….

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Writers Worth: Eliminating Freelance Competition

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Competition. It’s something I’ve said doesn’t exist in freelance writing. We have colleagues, some of whom actually share the same specialty or niche, but since there is a seemingly limitless supply of work for the actively marketing/networking freelancer, that shouldn’t matter. It hasn’t in my orbit, and I know at least three other writers who…

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Writers Worth: It’s Nothing Personal

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Writers, rejection happens. A lot. Even when you’re ten years into your career, you’re not about to please everyone. That’s Anne Wayman’s message in today’s guest post — her second here this month. Anne, a veteran writer and someone who’s taught many of us to let go of the emotional baggage we writers tend to…

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Writers Worth: Your Freelance Writing Formula

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It’s hard to believe this is the last full week of Writers Worth Month! We’ll still have posts through May 31st, so check back every day. Still, it’s fine to show up here every day and read about how worthy your skills are, blah blah…. Today, we’re actually going to calculate it. And Cathy Miller…

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Writers Worth: Expressing Your Worth

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My husband and I were at a high-end kitchen design shop not long ago. We were browsing for ideas, and in the process, we were greeted by one of the salespeople. The man introduced himself, explained the showroom floor, then hung back at the front of the store until we sought him out. He then…

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Writers Worth: Bad Offer, Disguised

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I was talking with a client prospect not long ago, and it became apparent that I was being railroaded. It was a simple conversation — we were to explore writing projects that I assumed (rightly) I was being considered for. Only the offer that came back wasn’t one of a client/writer business relationship, but more of a…

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4 responses to “Writers Worth: Bad Offer, Disguised”

  1. Cathy Miller Avatar
    Cathy Miller
    May 18, 2017

    Fortunately, I have not received this kind of “request” recently. I definitely have. But then my writing for the trade publications is ghostwriting on behalf of my client. Because it’s my client’s byline, there’s no slipping in a quote or two without them paying for it. ☺

    In the past, I’ve had “requests” for non-compensated work for a non-profit and even a chapter of an industry book where I would reap the grand benefit of visibility. Oh, and in the case of the book, I would get a FREE copy! Wow. 😉

    1. lwidmer Avatar
      lwidmer
      May 18, 2017

      Wow! A free copy! You can pay your utility bill with that, Cathy! 😉

      It’s unfortunate that these offers, at least in my area, are starting to become more common. In one conversation recently, I could tell the prospect was trying really hard to say they wanted some arrangement that wouldn’t require paying me.

      Then why contact me? Why insult me?

  2. Paula Hendrickson Avatar
    Paula Hendrickson
    May 18, 2017

    Since I deal with publicists all of the time, it’s common for them to ask if I have any markets that might be interested in a piece on one of their clients—usually accompanied with press materials. But no one has ever implied or asked for any special arrangement. Heaven help them if they do. It would make it highly unlikely for me to ever use one of their clients as a source.

    Sometimes I ask publicists if they have any leads, but that’s all part of the job.

    No matter the scenario, I never let sources read an article before I submit it. (Okay, in the past I wrote for one local pub that allows sources to review copy. Half the time they were sucking up to potential advertisers, the rest of the time they said it was to make people who aren’t used to being interviewed feel more comfortable with the process. It still made me cringe.)

    1. lwidmer Avatar
      lwidmer
      May 18, 2017

      Amen.

      Paula, to you and me (and Cathy), we know that sources don’t get to look at the copy. But to the new freelancer, it’s uncharted territory, and they may agree without realizing that the person asking isn’t the one who’s paying, so they have no right to ask…

      This issue here is one of companies or individuals wanting the work to be done for them for free. They want that “mutually beneficial” arrangement where they come out on top without any financial commitment.

      I’m of the opinion that if the article idea is a good one, it’s theirs to pay for. I don’t really want to compromise my integrity to make them happy — they’re not showing me any good faith at all.

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