Advice // Relationships // Writing
The HTML Writers Guild. (2000). Finding web design clients.
Retrieved March 21, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.hwg.org/opcenter/newsletters/tips/mar00b.html
The HTML Writers Guild's website contains tips on client relationships
submitted by those in the field, particularly freelancer writers and web
designers. Suggestions include improving client relations, finding and
keeping clients, and presenting yourself when conducting a search for
potential clients. The main site provides useful recourses for technical
writers in the web design area.
MacCampbell, D. (1978). The writing business. Crown Publishers,
Inc.: New York.
This book contains an abundance of information concerning
writing as a business. It was written by an author/publisher who has been
around the block and knows what kind of advice to give. Though the book
may seem a bit outdated, it does provide useful and relevant information.
Some chapters include ideas and suggestions such as finding the right
agent for you and your work, today's marketplace, choosing a publisher,
copyright laws, and contracts. As for professional writers, this resource
may be helpful to obtain basic publishing and relationship skills with
those involved.
Miller, J. (2000). Know the rules on getting paid. Retrieved April 13, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.freeagent.com/advice/workstyles/gettingpaid.asp
This article provides tips on handling billing disputes
with clients. Tips include: how to send invoices out on a proper timeline;
how to handle problems with bill collections; and how to use software
programs to manage accounts. The tips included on the page would be very
useful to professional writers just starting out in the field.
Miller, J. (2000). Win your client's confidence every time. Retrieved
April 10, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.freeagent.com/advice/marketing/confidence.asp
Another article by Julia Miller, an experienced writer, gives advice
on how to reassure a client of their professional writer's capabilities.
Topics include tips on the do`s and don'ts of managing a client relationship
and even advice on how to manage an unhappy client. The website also contains
links to other web pages on writer/client issues. This site is very reader
friendly, using humor where appropriate, and it provides advice that future
writers could use when dealing with clients.
Miller, R. (Date). Making long distance client relationships work over the long haul. Retrieved April 5, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.guru.com/channel/work/
guide/G365.jhtml
Miller, a freelance writer with 15 years of experience, explains what a professional writer needs to know when involved with a long-distance consulting relationship. The web article suggests ways of being professional via email and phone conversations. Miller also gives tips on how to impress distant clients and how to do so at a low cost. This article is useful for undergraduate professional writers because Miller discusses issues that are often uncomfortable to talk about in a class or with a client such as traveling cheap, what to wear when meeting clients face-to-face, and buying stamps and envelopes. There is also a "Recommended Resources" section that features current dilemmas encountered by professional writers and a "Quick Take-away" section that gives brief tidbits of information that will make you stand out from your professional writing counterparts. These section changes periodically, provide links to further information on the Web, and are often based on feedback from readers so there is an opportunity to have specific questions aswered by a reliable source.
Moriarty, W. (2000). Writer-Client-Agency Relationships. Retrieved March 4, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.copywright.com/article_relationship.htm
Moriarty, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Independent Writers and who has held many lectures and workshops on copy writing, discusses client relationships. He gives advice on providing writing samples and avoiding unrealistic expectations. Moriarty also gives his opinions about third party communicating. The web page allows the reader to obtain an experienced writer's perspective on the technical writing field which will be useful for an undergraduate in professional writing looking for advise in the professional field.
Polking, K. & Chimsky, J. (1975). The beginning writer's answer book. Writer's Digest: Cincinnati, Ohio.
This book offers many suggestions for people just starting off as writers of all kinds. The book contains many questions that are written to Reader's Digest, and even thought the book is a bit dated, many of a writer's current questions are still answered by this book. The questions are divided into 39 different categories. Related to professional writing and relationships with clients are topics such as working with a collaborator and literary agents, getting along with editors, knowing your rights and responsibilities, maintaining frequent communication with your publisher, understanding the business of writing, and selling your own writing.
Sheth, J. and Sobel, A. (2000, September 9). "Professional pitfalls." Advertising Age, 71, 54-56.
Sheth and Sobel suggest ways for consultants in all fields to balance their priorities, which in turn will make them better consultants. They provide examples from well-known companies about strategies that made the client-consultant relationship correct and incorrect in the professional arena. Written by two management advisors, this article is useful for professional writers who want to excel in productive professional relationships and suggests coping tips for consultants in negative client relationships.
Relationships
About.com. (2001). Writing winning proposals. Retrieved
March 4, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://consulting.about.com/smallbusiness/management/cs/consultants/index.htm
About.com consists of a team of researchers from all around the world
who supply the website with information on a number of topics including
writing. This site provides information about client relationships in
three categories: organizing the proposal, writing for your client, and
design considerations. The site provides tips on how-to write an effective
proposal, suggestions on how-to meet a client's needs, and advice on designing
a professional looking document worthy of the client. The advice is simple,
precise, and an excellent resource for future professional writers to
obtain useful information on client relationships.
Formichelli, L. Six signs your client relationship is on the rocks.
Retrieved April 6, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.1099.com/c/ar/ta/OnTheRocks_t034.html
Linda Formichelli is a freelance writer who lives in Blackstone, Massachusetts.
She has written an informative, and at times humorous, article about six
signs that your client relationship is in trouble. The information is
useful for writers in the field, and students who are about to enter the
work force, and want an insight into what really happens in a work environment.
Petrini, C. (1994). "The consulting contract." Training and Development, 48, 15-16.
Petrini is the editor in chief of the Training and Development journal. This article discusses different contract issues to negotiate between consultants and clients. It also gives a detailed list of questions to ask consultants and advice for newcomers in the field. Professional writers can use the resource as a basic list of questions they need to address when consulting.
Riley, R. (1999). "Consulting skills as vital as interviewing skills." Marketing News, 33, 19.
This article suggests that a project's failure or success begins with consulting skills. It also emphasizes the importance of project leadership and points out weaknesses in research. The article stresses the importance of consultants being technically literate while maintaining excellent interviewing/consulting skills. Ron Riley is a principal at Best Practices Research in Evergreen, Colorado. The article is great for Professional writers who want to fine-tune their professionalism while consulting with a client.
Rosen, J. Developing better client/consulting relationships. Retrieved April 2, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.jrctrainingsolutions.com/freebie2.htm
Jerry Rosen's article addresses the common complaints of clients and consultants after a project has been completed. He also discusses ways for consultants to prevent these complaints from the start of a project. This article is useful for professional writers who want to work out common obstacles in their consulting relationships before problems develop over the course of a project. Jerry Rosen has worked in the field of instructional design/performance development for over 25 years and is the principal of JRC, a training consulting firm he founded in 1982.
Ulviva, J.W. (2000). "Building relationships between consultants and clients." American Behavioral Scientist, 43, 1667-1681.
Ulviva's article is intended for consulting newcomers in the writing field. Ulviva advises on managing client-consultant relationships. The article also describes "typical" client-consultant relationships drawing upon many examples. Well-documented and based on 25 years of firsthand experience, this article is a great read for new professional writers who want a starting guide to build client-consulting relationships.
Writing
Ray, D. (2001). Developing an annotated portfolio. Retrieved
March 4, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/newbiegettingstarted.html
Ray is a technical writer who has taught technical writing at two major
universities and, along with contributing writers, maintains this site
and provides advice for beginners in the field. This website is user-
friendly and offers information that helps guide a new writer through
the technicalities of writing. It includes such information as a complete
client questionnaire to guide an interview, twenty questions to ask on
the first day as a contractor, and tips on finding writing jobs. This
website was constructed specifically for beginners in the field of technical
writing, which makes it ideal for undergraduates. You can also email Ray
questions about everything from creating your portfolio to finding a mentor.
The scope of the information on this site is outstanding and if certain
professional writing topics cannot be found here, there are also links
to other pertinent resources.
Technical Writer's Trade Group. (1997). Technical writer's code of professional practices in hardware and software industries. Retrieved April 1, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.nwu.org/bite/twcode2.htm
The Technical Writer's Trade Group of the National Writer's union proposes a set of guidelines that such writers should follow in order to have a professional working relationship with clients. Topics covered include: responsibilities of the writer; employer responsibilities; ownership of rights; payment, expenses, and retainers, and more. The web page offers criteria for what a writer should expect and what is expected of that writer when working on a project. Technical writers will find this a useful site to clarify the expectations that are commonly held for all client relationships.
University of Victoria. UVIC professional writing program. Retrieved March 13, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://web.uvic.ca/~pw/sources.html
This website was designed by for the professional writing program at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada. Under the subcategory of "sources," a browser finds two areas pertinent to professional writing: journalism and technical writing. Under each of these two areas, an undergraduate professional writing major can find useful information about the nature of the profession, listservs to join, lists of resource links, and career information. Written by nationally acclaimed professionals and faculty from editors to screenwriters, essayists to technical writers, and even critics and columnists, this site presents a useful source of information for undergraduate journalists and technical writers.
Zvalo, P. Writer and subject-matter expert: Establishing a positive relationship. Retrieved March 30, 2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.writersblock.ca/summer00/a-buswor.htm
An informative article from an e-zine called the Writer's Block. The article provides an overview on establishing a relationship with a Subject-Matter Expert or SME. The article explains that usually, a technical writer will work with an SME, and the writers job is translate the technical information to a larger audience. The article provides tips on how to establish a good working relationship with these technical experts in order to produce a better document in less time and with less stress.
Purdue University
last updated 4.25.01