|
|
 |
General
FAQ
 Just as all writers have their own
writing style, so do we each have our preferences in how we like to work
with our clients. If you have questions about how I work, this is the place to
find the answers.
Take a moment to look over the material below.
Then, contact me for a free initial
consultation so we can discuss your writing project in detail!
- Do you require a contract?
Yes. A contract simply makes good
business sense, and provides us both with a clear and mutual agreement for how
we plan to work together. My standard contract is short and to the point,
outlining our mutual understanding of the scope of the project, how and when
the drafts will be delivered for your edits and approval, and how much and when
I am paid. It also includes a confidentiality clause and stipulates who retains
ownership of the finished written work.
- What are your fees? Do you charge by the hour, the word, or by
the job? What about "rush" jobs?
See Fees and Payment Policies.
- How do you handle payment? Do you require a deposit or
retainer? Can I pay in installments?
See Fees and Payment Policies.
- How can you work with me if you live outside my geographic
area? I'm worried about being able to work with you "long
distance".
Distance is no barrier to our ability
to work together. Since 1996, I have successfully worked with clients based all
over the world: from coast-to-coast in the U.S. and Canada, as well as clients
in the U.K., Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Australia
and New Zealand.
Although I am now live full-time in Paris rather than
in U.S.A. (I came here to write a book, and stayed for love!), I offer regular
office hours Monday through Thursday up until 3pm Eastern time and 12pm Pacific
time, and I am happy to make accomodations for off-hours telephone meetings
with my clients by appointment. I maintain telephone numbers in both the US and France for your
convenience, or we can use Skype to communicate if you prefer. The Internet, faxing
and express mail services make it easy for my clients and I to communicate and
to send information back and forth as needed. So, if you are interested in
working with me, rest assured I will do my best to make the experience as
effortless as possible.
- What happens if I decide I don't want to (or can't afford to)
finish the writing project?
When I enter into an agreement to
provide my writing services, it is my expectation that the client fully intends
to see the project through to completion and that they have adequate financial
resources set aside to pay me, and on schedule. Please remember that this is
my business and my livelihood. I would expect that you would not hire me in the
first place if you do not think you can comfortably afford my
services.
Of course, this is real life we're talking about, and
sometimes unexpected things happen. You, the client, may decide at some point
that you are unable or unwilling to continue with our project.
If this
is the case, here's what you need to know. Based on the terms of our contract,
I will expect to be paid in full for my time and effort, and for any
out-of-pocket expenses related to the project, through and including the date
you cancel the project (I will naturally subtract any retainer or deposit fees
you have already paid). After I am paid, I will gladly return your notes,
drafts, documents, tapes or other materials you may have sent me. There will be
a $25 fee charged on your final invoice to cover the time and expense of
returning these materials. If you have prepaid me with a retainer or deposit
and this amount covers MORE than you would owe me, there will be no refunds of
those fees if you quit the project before it's finished. If I am NOT paid for
my efforts to that date, I will reserve the right to use the material I have
written in any way I choose and to publish it under my own name.
- Who retains the copyright or ownership of the finished
product? If you are ghostwriting for me, does your name have to appear with
mine on the byline?
Who retains the copyright depends on
the nature of the project. In cases where I am doing business writing and it is
clearly a work-for-hire situation, you as the client (or client organization)
automatically retain the copyright on the finished work.
If I am
ghostwriting your book or article, you will usually retain the copyright unless
we have agreed in advance on a shared byline such as a "with", "and" or "as
told to" credit, in which case we also share the copyright.
If I am
writing as a contributor to your publication under my own by-line, I would
expect that we will negotiate a contract that provides you with First North
American Serial Rights for one-time publication of the piece, and that I will
not be prohibited from reusing the piece in the future, whether on my own web
site or elsewhere.
Please note that I do include a clause in my
contracts stating that the copyright will not transfer to the client
until all fees have been paid in full, and in the event the client does not pay
all fees according to the terms of the contract, I will retain full ownership
of the written work(s). This provides me with some protection in the
(fortunately rare) event a client does not pay me the fees I am owed once the
final document has been delivered.
- What do you expect of your clients? What can your clients
expect from you?
A "writing for hire" arrangement is
truly a partnership between the writer and the client. I am not one of
those hired writers who cranks out fast (and cheap) books or articles with
little research and little participation from my clients. A quality finished
written product cannot be created without the committed efforts of both
parties.
I have limited time in my schedule, and therefore I am
extremely selective about the projects I accept. The most important
thing I look for (other than a really fascinating topic I can get excited
about!) when taking on a new writing project is that the client will only
engage my services when they are ready - emotionally, logistically, and
financially - to move forward with the project. Nothing is more
frustrating to than to begin a project with gusto, then have it slow to a
snail's pace or stop cold due to the client being unavailable or unprepared, or
worse yet the client confides that he/she is having "financial problems" and is
unable to pay me for my work. I'm sure you can appreciate why I'd want to avoid
working with someone who can't show up for meetings or won't pay
me.
What I therefore expect from my clients is:
-- that they
will do their best to provide me with accurate and timely information that is
necessary to the project;
-- that they will respond to my phone calls or
emails promptly;
-- that they are as committed as I am to moving the
project forward as quickly as possible;
-- that they honor our contract
including timely payment of all fees;
-- and that they are operating within
all applicable state and federal laws, including honoring trademark and
copyright laws, with regard to source material they are providing to me (in
other words, the material they are providing is original material they have
created or they have obtained the necessary permissions from the sources they
are using.)
I especially enjoy working with individuals or organizations
who are creative and flexible, and passionate about the subject or project we
are working on together! And lastly, since my business thrives on referrals, I
especially appreciate clients who are able to refer me to friends and
colleagues who have need of the type of writing services I provide, and those
who will permit me to use them as references and who will publicly acknowledge
the work I have done.
What my clients can expect from me: While I
can never guarantee (nor can anyone) that you will definitely be able to
publish your book or article, or achieve any other specific personal or
financial goals as a result of working with me, I do guarantee that I
will be professional, creative, enjoyable to work with, considerate of your
time and your budget, and that I will deliver a high-quality written product
that meets your satisfaction.
You can also expect: the strongest
ethical standards - I will not knowingly use or agree to use information in any
written work that is the intellectual property of another, without the author's
permission; complete confidentiality; frequent communications via email and
phone; a positive attitude and a sense of humor; flexibility; and a certain
"coach-like" approach to working with my clients. And, of course - excellent
writing skills and a quality finished written product. I am committed to each
and every client being fully satisfied with the work I do!
|
Why struggle with your writing, and why wait?
Contact me today to discuss your project!
|
The Writing Coach's
Guide