What’s your freelancing code?
Earlier this week I was giving advice to a freelancing friend of mine who was having a bad day, and I heard myself say, “If this assignment violates your code, then don’t do it. It’s as simple as that.”
It made me wonder how many of us have a code, personal rules or standards we won’t break as freelancers. For example, last year an editor who often gives me stories based on her ideas, assigned me a feature based on an idea she’d said I sent to her. When I read the idea, though, I knew I hadn’t sent it to her and told her so. My editor was grateful that I spoke up because the idea did end up belonging to another writer. Poof went a well-paying assignment — the money for which I could have really used — but the cost of breaking my personal code would have cost me more. However, I’m pretty sure many freelancers would have rationalized this by telling themselves, “I won’t say anything because she usually assigns me her own ideas, and besides, I need the money and it’s my editor’s fault if it’s a mistake.”
I’m not sure if honesty is my code. I’m not one of those folks who’ll tell a friend, “Your butt looks big in those jeans” or a student, “My seven-year-old can spell better than you can.” There are times when honesty isn’t a good policy, and it’s better to be diplomatic or even mute. It’s more like if I know something’s wrong and someone’s going to get screwed or hurt because of it, I’ll speak up, even if it’s not in my best interests. Maybe it’s the concept of playing fair that’s my code.
Other writers I know have different codes. I know a recipe developer who’s a vegetarian, and she runs from any project involving meat … indeed any project that doesn’t align with her food values. Another writer I know won’t work weekends. Weekends are for her family and nothing, not even an assignment, can interfere. And another acquaintance won’t write for a magazine that’s sold in a store she believes to be unethical.
So I’m curious … do you have a code as a freelancer? If you feel like sharing it (or want to admit that you don’t have one!) add your comments below. [db]
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Jan 16, 2009 Ethics, Observations, Personal yammerings, Rules
I never thought of it as a code…I think I would have said well, it’s not my idea, are you sure I should do it? Some places do pay people for ideas and then reassign them. Oprah mag is one. I am careful about not putting out what I consider to be questionable health advice. Do no harm is my motto, I guess. I also am leery of pharmcos–but do consider PR press releases for my health blog http://healthsass.blogspot.com. I try to apply my judgment to see if there is something in there for people. I also name products–and once turned down a project for a new cig name.
Well, I just posted about this on Freelance Success. This notion of magazines expecting writers to do proposal after proposal for a story that seems like they’re gonna assign only to have it not happen.
I don’t blame the editor who had to deliver this bad news to me. I blame myself for breaking my code of not writing proposals–thoroughly researched proposals that are almost the piece itself–without negotiating a proposal fee first. So that if the magazine decides it doesn’t want the idea, I’m not SOL on the money front. On the time front, yes. But at least I’ve got some dough to show for my work.
Great point about having a freelancing code!
Leah
I like to think I wouldn’t work on anything related to Wal-Mart or cigarettes, but if I’m broke, I’m liable to do weird things.
“And another acquaintance won’t write for a magazine that’s sold in a store she believes to be unethical.”
That is quiet the stance as I would imagine it eliminates many of the potential clients this freelancer could have. That leads to an interesting factor that could influence the code, experience. Without the ability to have a certain clientele base, it would be difficult to make a decision such as this, particularly if taking care of the family was concern. It just goes to show how personal and economic situations can influence such matters.