Where’s YOUR line in the sand?
Last week Linda and I were commiserating about the unreasonable demands some editors have been putting on us lately, stuff like expecting us to work through the weekend, pursuing sources who are clearly not interested in being pursued, and waiting eons to get paid after our work has appeared in print. (I kid you not on that last one.)
I mentioned to her how in the last couple years, I’ve gotten less tolerant of these demands. Yep, you’d think that hustling for fewer jobs in this crappy economy would make me shut up and put up, but it has had the exact opposite effect on me. Some of it has to do with my cancer experience last year (I’m fine! To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated) and getting a lesson in What Really Matters versus What Doesn’t Matter. Some of it has to do with getting older and seeing that my world won’t crumble if I say “No” or “That’s unacceptable.”
Mostly though, it’s confidence: I’ve been writing professionally now for over 15 years. I know what I’m doing, and I do it well. I bring good ideas to editors and I turn them into well-written stories that only need a light hand with edits. I’m professional and dependable, flexible, friendly, and easy to work with. What more could an editor want?
Plenty.
I remember the first time I drew my line in the sand. I was working with this new-to-me editor on a feature story. Things were humming along nicely, although once I turned in my story in, weeks passed and I didn’t hear from her despite my friendly followups. Then, around 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, I get an e-mail from her. “Great job on this! I’ve attached my edits; I’ll need it by Monday. Thanks!” She may have thrown in a “Have a good weekend!” for good measure, I don’t remember. The resentment grew as I looked at her edits. They weren’t simple; in fact, they necessitated more interviewing of my sources, and I was pretty sure researchers at Yale University were planning to have a good weekend, too.
I wrote her back immediately. “Thanks for this,” I wrote. “Unfortunately, I’m unavailable to work weekends. I can have it to you by Wednesday. Have a great weekend too!”
And at 5 p.m. I turned off my computer and enjoyed my much deserved two days off.
I can’t remember what happened after I drew my line in the sand, but I guess it didn’t end badly as I would remember that.
More recently an editor called me with a fabulous assignment. A big feature. A story I really wanted to write. Money that my checking account would squee over. The problem? Every time I’m owed money from this magazine, I have to beg for it. I had spent my Christmas agonizing over how I was going to pay for our utilities (trust me, I’m not exaggerating) while sending desperate e-mails to this editor that went unanswered.
When the new assignment came along, I decided I’d had enough and turned it down, letting the editor know that I could no longer write for her under these appalling conditions. A couple other writers asked me if she was mad at me. Mad at me? Hey, who did the work and didn’t get paid here? (BTW, I still haven’t been paid for one of the two articles I wrote for them, so if anything I’m relieved that I didn’t take the big assignment.)
I’m sure a few of you are reading this and thinking, “Geez, what a prima donna. Just work the weekend.” Or “What I wouldn’t give for an editor to call me with an assignment like that.”
Here’s the deal. We’ve all got different lines in the sand. There are things I’ll do my other writer friends wouldn’t dream of doing. One friend would never ever sign a pay-on-publication contract, no matter what the circumstances, while I’ll take a calculated risk. Another friend of mine balks at doing more than one round of edits while I just shrug it off and do them (unless I’m asked to do them over the weekend).
Do you have your lines drawn with editors? What are they? Have these lines helped or hindered your freelancing career? Are you a new freelancer and feel like you can’t say no? Add your comments below. [DB]
If you liked that post, you might also like:
- You Ask, We Answer: Help! I got an assignment and the editor didn’t mention how much they pay.
- You Ask, I Answer: How Close Do I Need to Come to the Assigned Word Count?
- You Ask, I Answer: What Do I Do When an Editor Goes AWOL After I Turn in an Assignment?
- Turning Down Assignments
- The Freelance Writer’s Bill of Rights
Apr 23, 2012 Advice, Editors, Observations, Rants
Wonderful post, Diana. I’ve been thinking a lot about the same issue recently. Isn’t it nice to discover the benefits of getting older? Less time to waste on stupid things.
Thanks, Gwynneth! My sentiments exactly!
This is an issue that I’ve been dealing with and that I’ve heard other writers talking about in the Freelance Writer’s Den. I kind of have a priority-metric-in-the-sand… Clients and pubs whose internal organizational issues affect my bottom line (“we just outsourced accounts payable” or “oh that comes from a different budget so that check will be later) get de-prioritized. On the other hand, I just had a magazine pay me, in full, on revision-acceptance via PayPal. Even though this nonprofit media group can only pay around 15 cents a word, I don’t have to wait 45+ days for it, and the editors are great and I can learn from them—two plusses which have moved them to the top of my list.
Ruth, I have the same kind of metric with my editors. There are some I’ll move mountains for, not just because they pay quickly, but they’re a pleasure to work with (which has gotten more important to me in recent years. Money isn’t everything — and this from someone who needs it!)
Fantastic post, Diana, and congratulations on getting clear about what works for you and what doesn’t — and having the courage to communicate it…with confidence!
This is often one of the first thing new coaching clients and I work on: taking charge of their freelancing so they honor their own needs, too.
It’s amazing what seems to happen as a result: old opportunities may fall away, but from what I’ve observed, new and better ones WILL come in their place.
Congrats again! -Marla
Thanks, Marla. I agree re: better opportunities. The moments we waste on “opportunities” that don’t meet our needs keep us away from those that do.
Diana, I no idea about your cancer experience but I’m glad to hear you’re OK.
Based on what I’ve heard from other freelancers and my own experiences, it seems like editors are getting squeezed and in some cases, the pressure to do more with less can get passed onto us. Unless the timing is just not realistic, I’m willing to take on these tight turnaround revisions or other challenges. HOWEVER, working through the weekend or doing extra reporting to meet a last-minute deadline has an opportunity cost for me, so I sometimes negotiate more money. Editors can’t always afford to up the fee, but I think it’s reasonable to ask.
I’m increasingly seeing contracts that require the freelancer to share their articles on Twitter or Facebook. Some freelancers resent that expectation but I don’t mind because I usually share my articles anyway and it doesn’t take too much extra time. That said, I can understand why other freelancers object to that requirement.
Diana, we are all completely within our rights to draw lines in the sand. That is the nature of freelance. We do not need to follow someone else’s rules — unless we choose to.
diana,
as I think Dr. Phil said, “we teach people how to treat us.” the more wimpy writers are about how they want to be treated, the more those wimpy writers make it hard for the others.
would your plumber let you pay him three months after he fixed your toilet? no. they demand to be paid on the spot. that’s the way we should operate as well.
Good post! Giulietta
Awesome post Diana. Thanks for saying it, especially so that newer freelancers can hear it. If a big part of freelancing is about relationship building then editors need to be reminded that the relationship goes both ways.
Waiting for weeks until the last minute to send you edits on a Friday and asking for the piece back on Monday seems extremely rude and disrespectful. In my mind that’s a lack of common decency, from one human being to another. Plain and simple.
Your “line” doesn’t really seem like a line to me. It’s simply expecting someone to treat you and your time with respect. What ever happened to etiquette?
Kenia, I agree with you, but on the other hand, some writers DO work weekends because that’s the only time they have to write. For those writers, hearing on a Monday night, “I’d like this by Thursday a.m.” might elicit the reaction I had, while I wouldn’t have a problem with it.
You are so right to draw your lines in the sand, Diana. I actually quit working as a book editor when I realized that publishers always took 90 or more days to pay. One publisher, in particular, took four months, and weekly reminders, to pay the phone bill I’d accumulated in talking to their writer. It was infuriating! I’ve never experienced such a thing as a magazine writer — although I also have a few kooky stories, there, too. One was an editor who sat on my story ideas or two years and then called me and wanted it in two weeks!
As a result, of actions like these, I decided to stop writing (except for corporate gigs — at least business people appreciate writing skills) and open my own business in which I coach writers and editors in working faster, better. Am so glad not to have to fit for weekends/paycheques any more.
I’m posting this comment for Sean Berry, who had trouble logging in:
*****
When the new assignment came along, I decided I’d had enough and turned it down, letting the editor know that I could no longer write for her under these appalling conditions.”
I’ve faced similar things in the freelance world, as a writer, photographer, or videographer (my three hats, but heavy on the third one). As a writer, one newspaper didn’t pay me for months – and one time, not at all. I gave up sending them submissions.
Another client cancelled on me over and over again on shooting assignments. I finally had to say, “I’ll need half the money up-front. Non-refundable if you cancel.”
I won a screenwriting contest and it took about eight months, eight emails, and couple of heated phone calls to get my money.
On the flipside, I have a couple of clients that pay me the next day. They’re great.
Point is, you’re right: you’re going to have clients/customers/editors/whatevers that will jerk you around to the point where you say, “On second thought, I think I’d rather pay you NOT to give me the assignment.” When you reach that point, it’s time to delete the
I drew my line in the sand with a client several months ago, and it did end badly. The client consistently piled tons of last minute work, and said they would fix it by hiring another person, and the problem still persisted. They let me go when I asked for additional compensation to take on the last minute work. Even though they were my second biggest client, I’m glad I no longer have to work for them.
Allison, you said it ended badly, but it sounds like it was a good thing in that you’re glad you don’t have to work for them. It was just too bad you didn’t beat them to the punch!
Hello Diana. Your post came at a crucial moment where I’m contemplating how to draw MY line in the sand with a current client. Without going into the minutia: my compensation agreement with the client changed recently from an hourly rate to a per article pay rate. On the surface, it was a better deal by being closer to the industry standard (but still below it). Where the agreement buckles is where, no matter whether I put in a half hour or three hours into the R&D, I still get paid the same amount.
I was willing to work with the client who cites a start-up budget constraint as a reason for a cap on how much I get per article, but was stopped cold when my R & D includes travel (mileage and gas), interviewing and photographing subjects. That would exceed the .5 hours I was allotted for content development by about three hours. And I wouldn’t get paid for it. Honestly, I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach by not accepting this, but I’d feel worse if I allowed the client to create this expectation as a norm. Have you seen the gas prices lately? Thanks.
Yahaira … OUCH! I hope you’re still not feeling sick in the stomach by saying no. It sounds like they were trying to take advantage of your time. I hope you find some other clients who’ll respect the time you need to do a great job.
[...] weekly Bitch Slaps to remind me to get real, in business and in life. And then there’s The Renegade Writer, who posted recently about finding your freelance line in the sand. What won’t you do for a [...]
As I get older, I too draw mmore lines. I want to be paid on acceptance. I had one client pay me on acceptance, but print the thing a year later and ask for edits then–when I said, sure, for $150 or whatever, the client said, “This is why we like to pay on pub.” Fine with them for me to wait a YEAR! Never again there. I also won’t sign indemnities–I am a person in a little hut staring at a cactus–don’t stick ME in front of the lawsuit tank. And I really don’t want to chase art–I can ask do they have pix, but don’t send them to me, have me evaluate the resolution, ask for more, etc.–different union. I also don’t want to pay the PP fee. I should pay YOU to get paid?
Star, I won’t sign indemnities either. And I love how some editors have tried to convince me to sign them, everything from “No one else has complained” (My answer: Consider this your first complaint) to “It’s just a formality; we’ve never had to use it” (My answer: “So you won’t mind if I strike it…?”)
Yeah–those indemnities–they came during the dotcom crisis–too many lawyers chasing too little work–hey, what about those writers, they are starving, right, so what if we make them pay the nuisance suits–no one will sue them or us! [sad, resigned headshake]
[...] Where’s Your Line in the Sand? [...]
Hey, great post…For the record, I just want to commend you on drawing your own line in the sand. Personally, I don’t think it’s prima donna whatsoever to set reasonable and decent working standards for yourself. Comparatively speaking, I have far less experience freelancing than either you or Linda, and I would not hesitate to cut the cord with an editor or magazine who was unresponsive or failed to pay me. As many a wise woman has said, we teach people how to treat us. Here’s to establishing our own limits for what we will and will not put up with, and opening doors to new opportunities that are in line with them.
Cheers!