The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer’s Resource

The Client Wants…

by Anne Wayman on July 18th, 2007

Sometimes a ghostwriting project goes something like this:

• The client wants a 100-page ebook
• Content is outlined
• The client promises both a foreword by a third party and a fairly extensive chapter he will write.
• The client also promises a selection of line drawings.
• And the client wants the project in 45 days.
• The writer agrees, gets an upfront payment and plunges in.
• The client informs the writer no foreword will be forthcoming and that he can’t get his chapter written. Sends a very rough draft. Client lets the writer know that the drawings may or may not happen.
• Some 40 days in the writer let’s the client know that, based on what’s been provided so far, the project is seriously short of 100 pages. Asks for direction.

I have no clue how this one will come out. I’m more than willing to create more content, but I need direction from the client. Based on what I know now, even with drawings, we’d be lucky to get to 50 pages… which might be enough.

It’s not always possible to fulfill a client’s needs… unless the client holds up their end too. What’s necessary, I think, is to let the client know about the problem as soon as possible.

Write well and often,

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POSTED IN: Ghostwriting