Dog Community

Designers/freelancers?

Posted : 6/27/2006 9:11:41 PM

How do you make people understand deadlines?

I'm working on my first big project, a magazine that is due at the printers Fri morning and I don't have two of the articles. I don't even think one person has started on theirs. The deadline they were given was the 15th. I'm fully prepared to pull their space and fill it with something else but how long would you wait? I'm sure this is pretty common in this business but it's SO irritating!!

jeano

Posted : 6/28/2006 2:04:54 AM

I can understand. Mostly these days I'm on the writing, not editing end of things. I think most editors pad their deadlines to account for writer flakiness.

However, if I were an editor and had a hard deadline, if the writer missed it, that would be that. No article in on time = no pay for that piece.

What do you need? I need to make some money....heheh. [

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sooner

Posted : 6/28/2006 6:54:47 AM

Hmmm, did you happen to attend any of the 2006 Oklahoma legislative session? [

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cyclefiend2000

Posted : 6/28/2006 12:42:49 PM

i would also pad the deadline. i dont work in publishing, but we do have deadlines to meet in terms of what our clients or their lawyers want/need. usually, the one company we do a bulk of our work for will set the deadline at a week or so before they actually need it (they inadvertantly told me this once). this is good for us and them as it is always in on time, and there is some leeway for revisions (if needed). so if you need it by the 15th, i would say i needed it by the 7th or 8th.[sm=2cents.gif]

Kara

Posted : 6/28/2006 12:43:15 PM

I'm mercenary when it comes to clients getting me photos/ads/copy I need to make deadlines. If I said the 15th, they better have it in on the 15th. Their lack of planning does not consitiute your emergency. To the printer on Friday AM? OMG! Tell them you will have it by 3:00 today or their copy will be left out.

If you don't put your foot down with clients and train them the right way, they only get worse. You do it nicely of course! [

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sooner

Posted : 6/28/2006 3:29:52 PM

LOL! The 15th WAS padding the deadline!

Thank goodness I just got the missing material and I think I can have it done. Now I know next time to pad it by an additional couple of weeks. Ridiculous! This thing goes out six times a year and has for 20 years, it's not like they don't know it's coming.

Benedict

Posted : 6/28/2006 3:53:25 PM

I know all of my deadlines are padded, but always get the assignment done by the requested date. Not getting things done on time does zilch for my future business prospects.

If you have to be firm, you have to be firm - totally within your rights to do so.

Kate

brookcove

Posted : 6/28/2006 10:24:31 PM

Writers are flaky and horrible procrastinators.

I am a writer.

Padded deadlines are good but we're on to that game, unfortunately. I write for our breed club newsletter and am an editor, and I still get flaky around the deadline. It's genetic, I guess. If the copy isn't in, it doesn't get in - that's something that DOES motivate me. [

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I know it's hard to leave out something that sounds really awesome prospectively, but the most wonderful creative bit of copy doesn't come across well in Psychic Ink.