When you first start out as a freelance writer, you just want to make a few sales and build a portfolio. Once you’ve done that, you realise that editors who have previously published your work might be inclined to make additional purchases. At some point you’re going to find yourself with a regular contract to provide a steady trickle of articles to a single editor.
Having a regular contract isn’t the same as having a job. You still have other clients to please, after all, and you’re still going to keep writing on spec, or to add to your own portfolio. Regular work is nice, though, and does mean regular money.
So how do you make your editor’s life easier?
Well, first off, you keep up the high standards that got you the contract in the first place. You remember to adhere to format and style guides, you spell check, edit, revise and spell check again before you ever consider submitting anything.
You also check your facts, and write from authority, either personal or borrowed through thorough research. It’s a standard clause of a writer’s contract that you indemnify your publisher from any responsibility for your errors. That doesn’t mean your mistakes can’t cause your editor headaches through, so be thorough and accurate, and avoid libelous comments at all costs.
If you have to submit a piece with a comment you feel might be dubious, such as quoting a “fact” from one source that is questioned by another, and it’s not appropriate to mention the doubt in the article, send a note with it explaining the discrepancies between sources, why you’ve gone with one and what the other says. That way your editor can make a judgment call.
Don’t get into the habit of sending voluminous notes about every decision you make, though, or your editor will stop reading them, and probably stop commissioning you, too. You’re trying to make your editor’s life easier, not add to their workload.
Be conscious of deadlines, and never accept an assignment you don’t think you’ll have the time to complete. If you know in advance you’re going to be too busy or unavailable for a time, let them know as far in advance as possible, and if you can, suggest another freelance writer who might be able to provide cover for you.
You might think asking another writer to take up your slack could cost you work, but if you have a working relationship with them first, they are unlikely to try and take over your regular spot. Leave it to your editor to find a replacement, especially with no notice, however, and you could end up losing out altogether.
At the same time, don’t pretend to be busy when you’re not. If you have time spare, let your editor know, subtly, that you’re at a loose end. You never know, you might pick up someone else’s slack.
Once your editor knows you can be relied on to provide quality content on time every time, and that you will only accept work you can provide, you can be sure you’ll move up the list of writer’s to contact when there’s a tight deadline to meet, and you’ll have succeeded ion making their life that much easier.
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