If I’ve learned anything in the years I’ve spent working for myself it’s this: you have to stick up for yourself – because no one else is going to.
No one else is as invested as you are in hitting $2/a word, making it into your dream publication, scoring that interview, reaching your goals, or considering yourself a success – friends and family not included.
To stick up for yourself, you have to learn how to just say no, and say it often, in all kinds of situations.
Like these:
Pay
When a content marketing agency offers you the chance to write 100 short companies profiles for a gig that will suck up most of your time for weeks and works out to be about minimum wage and you seriously contemplate saying yes because you’re just starting out and don’t have anything else on your plate right now – just say no.
Instead, find a local publication, trade magazine or specialty publication that pays more and can hook you up with editors who will help you get better at your craft.
For opportunities, consult JournalismJobs.com, Online News Association’s careers section, Mediabistro job listings, LinkedIn Jobs, or sign up for FreelanceSuccess.com ($99/year) for weekly market reports on all kinds of writing opportunities.
Contracts
When an editor loves your story idea and assigns it on the spot but says not to worry about a contract, their word is good enough – just say no.
Instead, keep a generic contract on hand you can use for just these situations. Freelancers Union has a Contract Creator form that you can customize to fit specific assignments and download; you have to join the organization to get the form, but registering is free (and includes other benefits).
At the very least, request that the editor send you an email/text/letter spelling out the parameters of the assignment so you’ve got proof of both parties’ obligations. If he or she can’t or won’t send such a letter, draft one yourself and ask them to acknowledge receiving it so you have something in writing that you can go back to if things go haywire.
Rewrites
When your editor sends back a story and asks you to recast it with a new angle that will require coming up with two new sources and three fresh quotes because at the last minute his editor changed her mind about what she wants and by the way they’re not going to pay you anything extra even though you already did everything you were contractually obligated to do – just say no.
Instead, point to the assignment terms spelled out in your contract or assignment letter. If they’re asking for work that falls outside the original scope of the assignment, ask for more money – strike that. Don’t ask for more money. Ask for a specific amount of additional compensation, as in, “I can provide you with two more interviews and add three new quotes for an extra $150.”
Rights
When a publication asks you to sign new contract to replace the one they’ve used for years and the new contract claims all rights to your words in perpetuity in all known and yet-to-be-invented forms of media and you think about signing it so you’ll look like a team player – just say no.
Instead, strike any terms you don’t agree with from the contract before returning. Better yet, ask for a phone call or send an email politely explaining that you’ve been working for the publication for XX months (or years) and want to continue working under the previous contract, since nothing about your working relationship has changed. If that doesn’t work, suggest rewording the contract to share nonexclusive rights to the work after a reasonable period of time – depending on the timeliness of the article, “reasonable” could mean a couple days, weeks, or months.
Payment terms
When a publication greenlights your story idea then reveals that they pay on publication and can’t commit to a date yet but it could be three, six, 12 or 24 months from now – just say no.
Instead, find a publication that pays on acceptance. Better yet, write terms of acceptance into your contract so nothing’s left to chance: one editor’s definition of acceptance might be “Send your invoice with your first draft” while another’s might be “Wait to invoice me until any and all requested revisions have been completed” no matter how long that takes.
Exposure
When a startup you admire asks if you’ll write for them for free because it’s a great cause and eventually they’ll have money to pay for your time but not now because well, they’re still getting their feet wet though it’s great exposure – just say no.
Instead, ask them if they pay their mortgage or rent with exposure, if it covers their monthly costs for groceries, gas and electricity, cable and cell service. Didn’t think so.
Then, look for startups that recognize the value of professional writers and pay them what they’re worth. If it means writing more stories about subjects that you’re not passionate about, so be it. As freelance business writer Laura Shin wisely put it in a recent Facebook conversation with other freelancers, think of your writing business like a three-tiered cake. Build the biggest, bottom tier with work that pays the bills – even if you aren’t crazy about it – and helps get you work in the second, smaller tier of better publications that may hire you for more interesting and better paid work. Use those clips to work your way up to the smallest, uppermost tier — publications you’re dying to write for that love your ideas or dish out assignments you’d say yes to in a heartbeat, and on top of that, pay very well.
Read other smart advice from Laura in one of her recent Forbes.com’s columns: How a Freelance Manages Her Time, Money, To-Do List and Despair.
Advice
When someone who wants to find out more about what it’s like to freelance asks if they can pick your brain about how you do your job, who your clients are, what you charge and how much you make but has little regard for the time answering all those questions would take and how much it would cut into your productivity and revenue for that day – just say no.
Instead, point them to your blog – if you blog about that kind of thing – or this blog, or Freelance Success, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Online News Association, Freelancers Union, or other groups where they could learn more about the profession.
My rule of thumb: if I know, like and respect someone I’ll give them more of my time. I spent an hour on the phone last month with a reporter I greatly admire who took a buyout after a long daily newspaper career who’s contemplating freelancing full time. I’ve spent time counseling other reporters and writers I’ve worked with at various publications. Someone I don’t know as well or at all doesn’t get the friends and family treatment.
It’s also one of the reasons I run the WordCount Blogathon every year, to share what I know about blogging and social media, but in a group setting that’s fun for everyone.
I’ve answered other questions about freelancing, negotiating and getting along with editors in many posts. Find a list of them here: Dear WordCount.
[Flickr photo courtesy Steve Boneham]
Thank you for this! It’s a good reminder for me.
After I saw a notice for a copyeditor job for a magazine I frequently read, I contacted the editor and sent him a resume. He said the position wasn’t filled yet but would I be interested in sending some story ideas. I did and he asked if I’d do one of them. He gave me a word count and a fee. After I asked a few clarifying questions, including did it pay on publication or acceptance and was there a kill fee, he told me ‘on publication, no kill fee. This is a test. But if you aren’t comfortable doing it I have a team of writers who will.” I’m anxious to break into a national market (have been regional up to now) and agreed. I wrote it, sent it, got an acknowledgement of receipt but that’s all I’ve heard (no feedback on quality). I had already told my husband I would do it this one time only because I would like a national clip in my portfolio. But I won’t write on publication again.
As I said, a good reminder.
Yes, good reminder. Also, if you don’t hear back from them in another couple week, follow up with a short note informing them that because you haven’t heard from them you’re taking the story back, and they no longer have rights to publish it. If that doesn’t bring a response, start marketing it elsewhere and monitor the site to make sure they don’t use it. Publications can’t sit on a story indefinitely.
Michelle
Great article. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to say no, BUT I am bookmarking this for when I must!