Some lessons are learned the hard way. That is too true even in the magazine publishing industry. And the lessons can be for both the publisher and the writer. For a real life example of this, you should check out the “Whispers and Warnings” section of the Writers Weekly Ezine. The ezine publishes complaints from freelance writers who feel they are not being treated fairly by publishers. It also presents the publisher’s side of the story if one is sent in to the ezine. You can read one dispute between a publisher and a writer that was included in the November 12 issue of the ezine at Whispers and Warnings.
Be sure to read the comments made by other readers for excellent insight into the situation. Two lessons seemed to be repeated throughout all the commentary. The freelance writer should have gotten a written contract. And the publisher should not have underestimated the collective power of the writing community. Go read through the dispute yourself and learn from someone else’s hard lessons from working in the magazine publishing industry.
2 responses so far ↓
1 tashabud // Dec 12, 2008 at 10:14 am
Hello Kelli,
I went to the aritcle’s site to read the argument. It’s an interesting read. The publisher is such a bully. I suppose, as minor a job there is in freelance writing, one needs a written contranct just so the publisher is not going to take advantange, huh?
Tasha
2 kelliw // Dec 13, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Yes. I think a contract protects both parties. I do work sometimes on jobs that I pick up from sites like Elance.com or GetAFreelancer.com. Even on those assignments, I like to have an email where the agreement is clearly written out and both of us approve it.
Thanks for dropping by. I’m going to visit your blog.
Kelli
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