All posts with the ‘ client control ’ Tag


Work For Hire or Copyright Assignment?

Here’s a question that keeps popping up in my conversations with creators:

What’s the difference between a “work made for hire” and when I assign my copyright to someone else? In both cases I no longer own the copyright, so what’s the difference?… Read More

Let Your Contract Be the Boss of You

Have you ever felt like a jerk because a client asked for something you hadn’t originally agreed on and you said no? Even though you were totally in the right?

Or because a client, who was over a month late in paying you, got upset about the late fee you charged them?

If you have, or if you feel intimidated when you have to enforce … Read More

That’s My Policy

Most freelancers don’t start working for themselves because they want the opportunity to be constrained in their work. They aren’t looking for limits or extra hurdles to jump.

As a result many freelancers don’t have policies for their business. They don’t have rules about what their business will and won’t do, what they’ll accept from their clients and what they won’t.

But what they don’t … Read More

When Should You Start Worrying About Getting Paid?

A check was due two days ago, but the client’s really nice and has never been late before….

The invoice is due in three days and you haven’t heard from the client since it went out….

You can’t bill the client until they sign off on the last round of revisions but no one will respond to your emails…

…when should you start worrying about … Read More

Swim Lessons for Stubborn Clients

I’ve spent the last week cajoling a five year-old to put her face in the water at swim lessons.

She thinks I’m absolutely, 100% insane crazy.

It will hurt her eyes. She’ll get water in her ears. How will she breathe? What if the other kids laugh at her? It’s scary!

I can tell her a bazillion times that it will be OK, but … Read More

Good Advice #12: Should I use their contract or mine?

When does it make sense to use the other side’s contract and when should you push for using your own? Why does it matter and how do you figure out what to do?… Read More

What’s Your Policy?

As a lawyer who makes a living reading, writing and revising contracts it’s in my best interest to tell you that contracts are incredibly important and if you don’t have a contract your clients will get away with murder.

And that’s true.

But also not.… Read More

When in Doubt, Take a Break

You’re in the middle of a weird coding issue that is jamming up the launch of a client’s new site when your phone rings.

It’s one of your other clients, Jane, who always seems to have “unique” problems.

Against your better judgement you answer.

She’s calling to complain about your most recent invoice. She doesn’t think it should have taken you half as long as … Read More

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5 Things to Know Before You Sign Your Publishing Contract

The following is the first of five emails from a free e-course about understanding publishing contracts. You can sign up for the rest of the course here. In any publishing deal, you're in charge. That's because a publishing contract is you giving the publisher permission to use your work. They need permission and

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