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Pushing Words Into The Black Hole

By Michael Stelzner

Ok folks. I need your feedback and support on this one.

Ever work your tail off getting a project written for a client because they “needed it yesterday”? I am sure the answer is YES.

Now the killer…

Has your work ever fallen into a black hole (along with the client)?

Do weeks go by after you submit your work and you hear nary a word??

Does this only happen to me?

How do you address this?

Let’s take a quick survey here:

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 am and is filed under Freelance Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

  • Bob - Good point about time. However, cash flow for many writers is an issue. Maybe not you. :) - Mike
  • My problem with the client delaying review is not cash flow; freelance copywriting is a low overhead business, and I don't live hand to mouth from check to check, as I am sure you guys don't either. The problem is my work is generally scheduled out months in advance. That's why my agreements require the client to assign all revisions within 30 days -- it's the only way I can manage my schedule.
  • Mike,

    Since this is such an important topic, I posted the the reasons why procrastination kills a white paper on my blog:


    http://www.whitepapercompany.c...
  • Folks - So far the survey results of this little poll are split down the middle. Those of you who seem to be protected from the black hole, let's hear from you. What's your strategy? - Mike
  • I'll send them to you via e-mail.
  • Jonathan - That is really an excellent idea! Can you actually send me (or post here) the actual words you include for that clause? - Mike
  • Boy are you ever singing my song.

    Unfortunately, the problem is equally bad for large companies as it is for small ones or startups. The only thing I can see that makes a difference is when there is a project leader, such as a marketing manager involved.

    The best way to solve that is to put what I call a "procrastination clause" in your contract. It states that after 120 days the project is officially considered closed for billing. When I reference this with a delinquent reviewer, I usually get the project finished or they allow me to submit final billing.

    I have a client in the UK that still has my first draft on his desk since last July! Fortunately they have paid me in full for the project.
  • Janice - The only problem is the client generally is NOT happy when you do that (submit the invoice with the 1st draft). I have also found it can result in the invoices getting lost. - Mike
  • This is happening more frequently. Clients have good intentions for reviewing a draft, but often they are just too busy and have too many new, higher-priority demands constantly pushed onto their plates to follow through.

    Because of this, my standard policy is to submit the final project invoice with the first draft. But I am always willing to pick up the project again once the client is ready to resume work. In the meantime, the pressure to complete the project is off, for both the client & me.

    Janice King, Author
    Copywriting That Sells High Tech
    www.writinghightech.com
  • Tom and what is really bad is that often the customer will consider the project complete until "they" make the time to read it. It is a real problem I seem to deal with rather frequently.
  • It can become a significant problem when your cash flow gets hung up by a big - and delayed - project, but even worse is the amount of additional time I invest re-starting a "cold" project.

    My guess is it takes twice as much time to finish a cold project as a hot one; that's a hit for any time-based business.
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