Late Fees
Many of us writer types are old pros at assessing late fees 30 days out. Some of us make ’em steep; my own late fee for clients is anywhere from 20-25 percent of the total due. In most cases, the sight of that fee causes clients to pay pretty quickly. It’s not meant as a scare tactic – it’s meant as a sign of someone who’s serious about payment and proper business practice.
So it was interesting to me to come up against a late fee recently. A magazine I’ve been thinking of writing for sends out blanket emails to its writing stable. This particular email lamented the fact that too many articles were late and caused the publication layout and printing problems as a result. For that reason, said the editor, this email included a new tack on getting articles in on time – late fees. For every day a writer misses a deadline, there’s a $50 charge. No exceptions. Mind you, they did allow for extenuating circumstances, but added that writers were responsible for notifying them seven days in advance of any circumstance that would cause them to miss their deadline.
So, writers. Is turnabout fair play? Do you see what the publication is doing as sensible? I do. I think it’s only fair to expect professionals at all levels to act like professionals. If it comes down to tacking on a late fee, so be it. But tell me – what do you think?
Lori:
I agree with you 110%.
I actually have docked MYSELF for having come in past a deadline. (Basically, I give my clients a discount due to my inability to finish a job on time.)
However, $50 per day seems a bit steep, but I gather it’s to make a point.
Angelique
One reason we’re not respected in the profession is that so many writers regularly miss deadlines.
I think $50/day is a bit much, but I do think the publication has the right to dock pay for missed deadlines.
You also don’t want to get the sleazoids who claim not to receive the content so they don’t have to pay for it.
I completely agree that writers who charge late fees should be assessed them. After all, turnabout’s fair play. Whether $50 is a fair amount, however, depends on how much the publication is paying for the piece.
I tend to agree. The $50 per day rate seems steep, but a penalty for missing deadline is certainly fair.
Yep! If we expect others to be accountable then we should set the example by being accountable ourselves.
I think one reason that writers miss deadlines and are late is because they overextend themselves.
I agree that putting some meaningful consequence on being late is fair. I say this because I’m been on both sides of the desk–writer and editor. It really causes hardship when writers don’t meet deadlines and puts a strain on the entire production process.
Now as a writer, I need to start charging those hefty late fees! Most
I think docking pay for missing a deadline is certainly within the publication’s rights. After all, wherever we work, whatever we do, there are consequences for missing deadlines.
I agree $50 PER DAY seems too high but also agree that it depends on the full amount for the article in question.
But it seems to me, the more acceptable behavior is to no longer work with that writer who routinely misses deadlines. Some things are unavoidable, however. And what compensation does the publication offer the writer when the check is late?
As both a writer and copy editor, I completely agree that a late fee for writers is fair. I am flexible with writers if they have a problem and notify me in advance, but when they simply don’t bother to file stories on deadline, it creates major problems.
Though if the late fee is $50 per day, the basic payment for articles must be pretty nice!