| Back to Home > Bulletin Board > Media Issues > Topic: Rock and a hard place... |
Topic: Rock and a hard place...
| Author | Message |
| mad fingers | Posted – 8/20/2007 12:07:18 PM | show profile I've been getting pretty steady work from a local magazine, but there was friction on my last assignment, which I thought we'd worked through. Didn't hear from the editor for a while, so I pitched him some things. He got back to me after three weeks (he's usually very prompt). So, he turns down several ideas. No big. Then offers me one assignment at a substantially lower per-word rate. I'm already getting less than other writers who work for this pub (I checked around). Rather than go off half-cocked, and shoot myself in the foot and bank account, I thought maybe you wise people could offer me some advice on how you might handle this. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 8/20/2007 12:45:12 PM | show profile I would call him on the phone and say, "I think there is some confusion over the last assignment you just sent me. The per-word rate is much lower than my previous assignments. I assume that was just a typo?" And then see what he says. |
| WinonaWriter | Posted – 8/20/2007 1:42:47 PM | show profile Seems to me that the editor probably doesn't agree with your assessment that the previous friction was "worked through." Or he's gun-shy about hiring you again, so you're kind of on "probation," in a sense. You need to re-prove yourself to him again as a writer he can count on. (I'm not saying you're NOT a writer he can count on...just that it sounds like his perception of you as a writer has changed after the friction.) I suspect it's not a matter of "punishing" you but just trying to minimize his potential losses. My suggestion would be to do a bang-up job on this assignment, then maybe ask for a meeting after that issue goes to press, when you can talk with him about whether or not he feels you're back on track. |
| WinonaWriter | Posted – 8/20/2007 1:43:12 PM | show profile Seems to me that the editor probably doesn't agree with your assessment that the previous friction was "worked through." Or he's gun-shy about hiring you again, so you're kind of on "probation," in a sense. You need to re-prove yourself to him again as a writer he can count on. (I'm not saying you're NOT a writer he can count on...just that it sounds like his perception of you as a writer has changed after the friction.) I suspect it's not a matter of "punishing" you but just trying to minimize his potential losses. My suggestion would be to do a bang-up job on this assignment, then maybe ask for a meeting after that issue goes to press, when you can talk with him about whether or not he feels you're back on track. |
| getmeoutofhere | Posted – 8/20/2007 1:48:51 PM | show profile I wouldn't settle for less money that you were getting previously without some discussion of the rate reduction. If you don't question it, you'll be setting a precedent that might make it more difficult to up the rate later on (and leave you full of resentment). the first person's advice was spot-on, in my opinion. call, remind him politely of your previous rate, and ask for an explanation for the change. |
| WinonaWriter | Posted – 8/20/2007 2:01:38 PM | show profile I agree -- a discussion is in order. Whether to discuss before or after you accept/complete this assignment might depend on this editor's personality, etc. If he's approachable/amenable, discuss before accepting the assignment. But don't go off "half-cocked," like you said...just try to understand his point of view, if it is indeed because of the friction last time around. In some ways, it's relationship management...the two of you may need to meet in the middle in order to salvage the working relationship. His step toward the middle may be that he's giving you an assignment at all...your step toward the middle might be accepting this one at the lower rate. If he's unwilling to budge on the rate this time, ask if he'll bring your rate back up again next time around after you're proven yourself again...if you're permanently bumped down to the lower rate, then you'll have to decide if he's worth working for. NOTE, I say all this not knowing what the friction was...can you shed some light on that? |
| mad fingers | Posted – 8/20/2007 3:04:00 PM | show profile The friction was due to miscommunication. Another writer originally had the assignment, but got over-booked so it was pulled and given to me. At that time, the editor passed it along to a sub-editor. Going by the assignment Editor gave me, I turned in the piece, but Sub-ed (who, to put it kindly, hasn't been in the biz very long and it shows) wanted a totally different angle; one that I was quite uncomfortable with, and I told her so. She backed down some. I did several re-writes at no charge. This is all before Editor ever sees it. When Sub-editor is satisfied, she hands it into Editor, only he wants much closer to what he'd asked for in the first place. Sub-ed suggests I get a few more sources and do another rewrite. At that point, I say not before I speak with Editor. He says, "I really wanted A, B, & C." I tell him "A, B and most of C were in the first draft, but Sub-ed had me take them out because they were 'boring.' " So he asks if I'd called to speak with Sub-ed to discuss the problems and I have to admit I've been e-mailing her. Passive aggressive, I suppose. So he suggests I call her and make nice, which I do. He apologizes for not being more clear to her when passing on the assignment. I dig up several more sources and re-write one more time. All is well? I guess not. (It occurs to me I may be outing myself here, but what the hell.) |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/20/2007 3:27:50 PM | show profile | email poster Some posters here will tell you this client's not worth the aggravation -- find another that won't give you ulcers. I agree in principle -- but I know how hard cash cows can be to come by. So if you feel you need to salvage the relationship, here's what I'd do if it were me. Keep to the high road whenever possible. As freelancers, we are very customer driven -- and while they are not always right, the customer is always ... the customer. When I have encountered different styles between editors, I have learned to do a bit of rolling over, sad but true. Staff will win over freelance every time, I tell myself - if not groveling, I do some smoothing over and keep the focus on keeping assignments and bucks rolling in. And thank goodness I don't have to deal with them full time, says I. Senior editor won't appreciate anything that makes more friction than he already has with Prickly Ed. I have encountered that same confused sub-ed -- perhaps we freelance for the same gal! ;)( You know it's going to be a bumpy ride when they can't even explain what they want. My thinking is that when Big Ed wanted it much closer to what he'd asked for in the first place and Sub-ed suggested more sources, instead of saying "In these shoes? I don't think so" -- you say "So more blablabal, and a bit more blablabal?" (Get Sub-ed saying yes, yes) and then say "Let me work a bit with some of the quotes I have in hand and see what you think." This gives Sub-Ed a chance to save face, say "Go ahead!" and puts the ball back in your court, rolling your eyes (but not where they can see!) For Ed, you could say "Let me send you my original first draft, and see if that will work for you if I put more C in it." This way he sees what you produced. Then, you can talk to Sub-Ed and say "What would you think of me putting more C in the piece?" and helps him/her feels like a Big Man. Emailing isn't necessarily passive-aggressive. Emailing is clear, sometimes. But phone calls may be the answer, you admit, so say "We've been working through email, but I think you're right. I need to talk to Sub-Ed." Calling her and making nice is the thing to do -- at least I would. If you feel like fighting to retain this source of revenue, I think you can do it. |
| mad fingers | Posted – 8/20/2007 4:27:18 PM | show profile I tried very hard to give Sub-ed what she asked for, however, when she suggested I portray someone in a cartoon-like manner that was neither flattering nor true, I balked. (If that was her perception of this man, I'm guessing she's had very limited exposure to the larger world.) As for Editor, I can see him not giving me assignments, however lowering rates just doesn't seem right. I will call him tomorrow (after I count to 10 a few more times.) |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/20/2007 4:31:33 PM | show profile Yes, I agree. I wouldn't do the buffoon thing either. I have talked editors out of similar stupid ideas. I don't think the rate should go down -- I like the typo-assumption thing. If you need the money, keep your cool ;) |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 8/20/2007 8:43:28 PM | show profile I think I would just say bluntly - "I'd love to do the assignment about Vampire Groundhogs - but can you tell me why the per-word rate has been lowered? Are you unhappy with my work?" Maybe throw in a "I've really enjoyed working for you and I loved the assignment about Rabid Ducks we did last month" to stroke his ego a bit. I mean it seems kind of like a punishment to me. Which makes Editor sound like a jerk. Unless it's a huge part of your bread and butter if Editor doesn't redeem himself I might say; "As much as I've loved working for you I can't see myself taking a pay cut when I've always given you excellent work. Is there any way we can re-establish the rate I was working at before?" Let us know what happens! And I agree with WOW - in the future if you have to deal with Sub-Editor and Editor on the story CC them both on everything. Then Editor gets to see what an idiot Sub Editor is and you get to stay out of the fray. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 8/20/2007 10:02:19 PM | show profile ---He says, "I really wanted A, B, & C." I tell him "A, B and most of C were in the first draft, but Sub-ed had me take them out because they were 'boring.' "-- Here's how I would have handled it. I would have told him, "That was what I did in the first draft, but the sub-ed asked for something different." And leave it at that. --So he asks if I'd called to speak with Sub-ed to discuss the problems and I have to admit I've been e-mailing her. Passive aggressive, I suppose.-- I think this is good advice. Email is a good way to communicate. But if you are having problems, or if an editor wants to change the assignment in midstream, you should talk on the phone. |
| mad fingers | Posted – 8/20/2007 10:16:48 PM | show profile dribble, I agree, it's better to take the high road. I let my temper get the better of me. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ah, so much better now. Thanks, everyone. |
| candylilacs | Posted – 8/20/2007 10:52:29 PM | show profile Also, it's good to have the e-mail so they have no deniability. I dealt with one "sub-ed" (I like that term!) who decided I was some pushy amateur after I had written for them longer than she had been there. The thing was, she OK'd my story ideas, so when I said, "OK, here's what I owe you, X in July and Y in August," she freaked out and told her editor that I was pushy and demanding to do stories. So I sent her the sub-ed e-mails where she *approved* the stories. The Sub-Ed wrote back in a sickly-sweet poisonous fashion, "Well, I'll honor these two this time, but you don't get to write all of our copy. That's just not how it works." Ugh. She was/is rank amateur and a *baby* at that. Since she took over I got a lot less assignments. It's OK, though, she changes everything so that it's hardly yours at the end. ------ http://www.mswritesguide.blogspot.com |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 8/21/2007 3:07:28 AM | show profile Many top freelancers often end up working with editors and sub editors with significantly less experienced. And, honestly, many young newbie editors are arrogant simply because young people are sometimes arrogant. When you become seasoned, you learned how to deal with people like this: professionally, but without any sense of intimidation. You learm how to talk with them, and, when necessary, how to tell them no, professionally but firmly. Much of this is a matter of learning how to slow things down: when you work with someone for the first time, you should talk with them in person and check in more frequently, making sure you are on the same page. Don't be afraid to check in and give them a progress report. I have been doing this for decade, but I tell new client and new editors I will do this just to make sure there is no miscommunication. No one minds. --I dealt with one "sub-ed" (I like that term!) who decided I was some pushy amateur after I had written for them longer than she had been there. The thing was, she OK'd my story ideas, so when I said, "OK, here's what I owe you, X in July and Y in August," she freaked out and told her editor that I was pushy and demanding to do stories. So I sent her the sub-ed e-mails where she *approved* the stories. -- |
| mad fingers | Posted – 8/21/2007 7:33:01 AM | show profile Well, in Sub-ed's defense: 1) She did ask me to come in to talk the story over. Had I gone, I could probably have seen the direction she wanted to take and nipped it in the bud, however, living in the land of no public transportation, that would have meant a large chunk out my day plus the cost of gas. I was on deadline for another story and gas was three bucks a gallon. Frankly, it didn't seem the best use of my time or resources. So I told her, "Well, Mr. X is a famous octopus wranger, and he is also well known for singing opera. I'll get the usual background information, then get him talking about the things he is passionate about (which is how I usually conduct a profile interview) and see where it goes from there." I asked if there was anything specific she wanted me to delve into, but she said she'd trust my judgment. Oops. 2) I think Sub-ed is just naive, not mean-spirited. Had Editor given her clear direction, or enlightened either of us as to the focus he wanted was, we all could have been saved a lot of tsouris. |
