The Business of Writing and Editing

I am returning to my career of writing after a period of illness (cancer). This is how I plan to earn money in my retirement years, with the help of the Texas Commission for the Blind, with very "high tech" equipment. I take my work, time, commitments, and Agreements with clients very seriously. Nothing gets in the way of doing my very best to meet expectations, and fulfill all Agreements to the letter, as well as maintaining continued communication with clients. I expect the same considerations in return.

It is imperative that we have a level field to begin our business relationship. I am a writer because I enjoy writing and believe its healthy to enjoy one's work—that it is my income, helps me enjoy my life and utilizing my experience and my education is an asset. I have met many wonderful clients and colleagues over the year and life gives me many topics for my creative writing.

Both of us may negotiate for a mutually convenient relationship. For example, if you need assistance over a long span of time and have no end date in mind, that gives me a better idea how to serve you, and others. If you need a web site design, written, and a webmaster, we may work out that arrangement.

Writers do their best when they have time to create, review, edit, refine, etc. Short rush jobs are, however, most welcome but communications must be put firmly in place before I may begin.

Writers often find themselves waiting for their checks to arrive, never having set up advance, intermediate and final payments with their clients so often they are unpaid, or do not receive their checks for months. Sometimes they never get paid because a publication goes out of business, and all of the other reasons one may imagine. In my opinion, my clients and I deserve much better relationships than the "market average." In fact, its not enjoyable to write for a client who hedges, won't return documents of inquiry so I may best serve their needs, and have little experience working with a writer, but I never hesitate to take the lead, if a client or editor requests my assistance. It is your business to know your product and every aspect of your business. If you find gaps, due to internet technology, there are many mentors available to you at my disposal.

For my clients' information and statistical reporting, I qualify as a Women and Minority-Owned Businesses (WMOB), and dis-abled individual (I use adaptive computer equipment, and undertake continued training by the Commission for the Blind in Texas.

Links to some of the documents I request from clients as well as my letter of agreement are herein. Let's start our relationship with a clear understanding that we are both working for a living, and respect each other enough to serve a greater need—our research, our teaching, or periodicals, and our readers.