Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Get it In Writing

I can't say this enough times. I can't count how many times I have failed to do so any gotten screwed. Get it in writing. No matter what we're talking about. In my case, story assignments. Do nothing until the contract is signed. Ever. Someday, I will learn this lesson and I will not stay up late being upset anymore.

Get it in writing. Payment schedules, intellectual property rights, lease agreements. All of it. Nobody is nice and a handshake does not count.

I am now saying this more as a mantra to myself. A chant I shall repeat as I stomp up the hills home today, a song I will sing in the shower.

7 comments:

Valtastic said...

What did you not get in writing recently?

I get everything in writing. I trust no one. I even kept your email with the weekend I'm visiting so you can bail on me.. ;)

Valtastic said...

I meant can't..

Anonymous said...

Never let anyone make you feel badly about requesting every detail, pass it off with "I'm paranoid" or "its just that I've had some bad experiences"...It is not impolite, it is part of a functioning in a civil society and those who refuse are usually not worth your business dealings.

P said...

People suck. |=\

PeaceLoveMath said...

You can't tell us all that and then not tell us what you were most recently screwed over about! What happened??

Katy said...

without burning bridges, hopefully, i will just say that i thought i was writing a feature story (with good reason) and i did not have a written contract for said story. needless to say, i was taken aback to open a magazine and see it there written by someone else. get a contract! get it in writing! lesson learned.

Anonymous said...

lesson learned now the important stuff hav you or cory woveled lately.