For Writers Who Have Been Stiffed...
By jswindell10
@jswindell10 (417)
United States
July 14, 2011 10:43am CST
or the client got an attitude about paying.
Allena Tapia is the Freelance Writing blogger for About.com. She also teaches and is highly regarded in the field.
However, this post rubbed me the wrong way.
http://freelancewrite.about.com/b/2011/07/13/anyone-in-this-business-should-understand-cash-flow-issues.htm
In short, she justifies a late (but supposedly small) payment to a subcontractor, who takes to slandering this woman on Facebook and other forums. So to appease this person, Allena pays her from personal funds, which she really doesn't want to.
My opinion is that no one's margin shouldn't be so thin that it's an issue. If you are a business person that works on an accrual basis, don't promise payment sooner than you can deliver.
What do you think?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
14 Jul 11
She should know better - and the fact that the comments are closed on that post shows that she knows she should know better.
It doesn't matter what your cash flow is. It doesn't matter if you're a little short of funds this month. You pay people ON TIME when you've agreed to terms or you ask VERY nicely if they'd mind waiting the three days.
She's potentially in breach of contract. I don't care how right she thinks she is, she's wrong.
The fact that the freelancer chose to publicly abuse her has no bearing on whether she's right or wrong - it just shows that the individual is petty and tacky. She's still wrong.
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
14 Jul 11
Thank you Spike,
I used to really respect this blogger but it seems the About.com contributors have a sense of entitlement.
A couple of years ago, I really wanted to learn copywriting and About.com's e-course was the best deal out there ($20). Well, Apryl Duncan (a former About blogger) ran the class and even when I opted for the upgrade (I think it was $80) where the instructor gives feedback, her advice was sometimes either general or wrong.
Last year, I wanted to take another $20 writing e-course. All I got was an autorespond. message for a month, never any correspondence. I actually wrote the About.com offices and started the refund process w/PayPal.
Turns out not only was Apryl Duncan behind this class also but she'd just given birth.
OK, unless she managed to become preggers overnight, wouldn't you find a way to handle business properly so as not to damage your name? After a few emails, it was worked out but I will never do this again.
Sorry to ramble but I feel us freelancers owe it to one another to announce a wrongdoing that may affect whether we pay our light bill - or not.
Too many Allenas and Apryls in the freelance world, we'll have to put on a paper hat and get behind a register to survive.
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
14 Jul 11
"I'm an expert."
There, I just set myself up as an expert in my field. It's that simple - which is why there are so many ridiculous, pointless courses and so much rubbish content available for money.
I've never paid for a course from anyone because, to be honest, I haven't met anyone I trust enough to produce the goods. About the only person I'd give money to for something is Darren wotsit, the ProBlogger guy (and that would be pointless, since I'm not trying to earn from my blog) - because he's proved his competence with his free stuff.
Most of these people are talking out of their chocolate wizzwangs (with thanks to Whoopi Goldberg for such a great expression). Come on, even I have free ebooks on my site. I could say I'm an expert and sell courses: all I'd have to do is market them. Of course, everyone would get screwed, which is why I wouldn't do it.
There's a big (huge, ginormous, Godzilla-sized) difference between being an expert, having authority and just being the owner of a very large head.
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
14 Jul 11
Yep, I just finished distributing this to a few social media sites myself.
Normally, there are two sides to a story but I'm hoping that About.com will replace her because she gives a lot of writing business advice.
I can remember being young and shaking people down for $5 but someone will get the impression that this is the way to do business.
