KEEPING A CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL HAPPY
As professional writers go, I feel lucky to have clients who make it easy for me to collaborate happily and productively with them. What do they give me? Just a few basics: clear expectations, good information, feedback, honesty, and respect.
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Set expectations. We start with a clear statement of expectations in writing. When clients have direction, they offer it. When they need help in setting direction, they say so up front.
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Lay the groundwork . They do what they can to help me complete my discovery more efficiently: assemble source information or give me links to it, give me names and contact information of people to interview, and in most cases alert interviewees in advance of my calls.
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Work with me to set reasonable deadlines. And when review cycles take longer than we planned, they understand that our schedule will most likely slip as a result.
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Are straight with me. If a deliverable or a process doesn’t work for them, they let me know promptly so I can make it right.
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Respect my livelihood. They show interest in making sure invoices are handled and paid within a reasonable period of time.
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