#freelance-talk
Thread
I just had to edit an article from a writer that came highly recommended. Industry veteran published in trade mags. They submitted a 900 word article, but only 200 of it was meaty. The rest of it was either fluff (including a 400 word intro) and talking down to the audience.
When i asked them why they didn't follow the brief I gave them, they responded "i never read those. I've been writing for X years, I know what's good." Went straight to my manager with my concerns, and she agreed that we shouldn't use this guy anymore.
Not looking for advice. Just venting
Good grief. I've been doing this for 25 years and I have no idea what's good. Briefs save lives.
I had one of those - claimed to be the best in the country. The content was wrong and the person wasn't taking the edits I (or our client) provided. It was not a fun experience.
@marissa yeah, it seems like this guy has a big ego. probably related to his status in the industry and how many times he's been published.
Now I am wondering if we worked with the same person @Patrick Icasas
It's been an absolutely bonkers week. This is exactly why I tell people these freelancer relationships are a two-way street. I've gotten flack because I prefer outlines and briefs in the process. I am always willing to take accountability if I fault short. I'm not perfect. Nobody is. But sometimes I also need to stand my own ground too.
If someone comes to me for work needing something like threat intelligence or another super niche thing to write that I have a lot of knowledge on, this would be the only real instance I feel confident enough to not have something in the workflow process to ensure everyone is on the same page. Only because I absolutely hate backtracking a lot in the process.
It's only been with clients I've worked with for years or in something in my more expert knowledge wheelhouse that I have the level of confidence to eliminate some of the processes eventually because there is more trust, rapport, and confidence between all parties.
@Amanda Scheldt exactly! There are some topics I wouldn't need much guidance for, but even than a solid outline or a brief really reduces the likelihood of missing the mark.
The only time I've been able to hit the mark with a general topic is when I've been working with a client for years and I knew exactly what they wanted based on our history.
IM A PEOPLE PERSON! PEOPLE LOVE ME!