Two Unrelated $$ Questions: Ebooks and Revisions

[beanandpumpkin]

Okay, I have two questions that have come up in the past few days:

1. What is a standard policy to have regarding revisions? I have a new client who asked for an article, and I submitted it to him. He called and clarified a few points; I had misunderstood what he'd wanted, so I made the changes (it called for rewriting and adding to a large portion). Now he's asking for more revisions... I have not seen them yet, because he said he needed to forward me an email from his client, and that client has not sent it yet, I guess. I'm not really counting the first revision, because I think it was a miscommunication/misunderstanding, but now I'm thinking that this will be the last revision? One per article/entry? Does that seem fair?

2. For those who have ghostwritten an e-book, what did you charge? By the word, or by the page? I've been asked to work with someone, and I'm supposed to give her a price... I have no idea where to even begin.

Thanks!

[kfount]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

Okay, I have two questions that have come up in the past few days:

1. What is a standard policy to have regarding revisions? I have a new client who asked for an article, and I submitted it to him. He called and clarified a few points; I had misunderstood what he'd wanted, so I made the changes (it called for rewriting and adding to a large portion). Now he's asking for more revisions... I have not seen them yet, because he said he needed to forward me an email from his client, and that client has not sent it yet, I guess. I'm not really counting the first revision, because I think it was a miscommunication/misunderstanding, but now I'm thinking that this will be the last revision? One per article/entry? Does that seem fair?

2. For those who have ghostwritten an e-book, what did you charge? By the word, or by the page? I've been asked to work with someone, and I'm supposed to give her a price... I have no idea where to even begin.

Thanks!

In my opinion, you should NEVER do a rewrite unless the client notices a glaring grammatical error.

Some of these "clients" are cheating writers with their rewrite requests.

If I get around to starting a ghostwriting business, I would say no rewrites and no refunds after services have been rendered.

For your situation, I would suggest charging however much per page if he keeps pestering you with rewrites.

[Brandi]

The standard per Peter Bowerman is to allow 1-2 revisions, depending on price and scope. Something that changes more than 20% of an article to me is a rewrite. I wouldn't sign a contract with a creative professional, if I were hiring one, who said no to any rewrites and revisions. That would be a red flag to me that the work may be sub-par.

[beanandpumpkin]

Yeah, I agree; I would not want to say "no refunds, no revisions," but I don't want to be yanked around, either.

[kfount]

Originally Posted by Brandi

The standard per Peter Bowerman is to allow 1-2 revisions, depending on price and scope. Something that changes more than 20% of an article to me is a rewrite. I wouldn't sign a contract with a creative professional, if I were hiring one, who said no to any rewrites and revisions. That would be a red flag to me that the work may be sub-par.

There would be no red flags with any clients I get because I would show them upfront what they would be getting with my portfolio.

If they don't like my writing style, then they shouldn't be working with me.

Doing a million and one rewrites is a waste of time and effort. To me it's wrong and unethical to ask for rewrites unless there is a grammatical error. When you ask a writer to rewrite a piece, you are asking them to change the whole thing around.

Only book deals and movie scripts deserve significant rewrites; a $20 article doesn't.