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07/28/2003 Archived Entry: "Whiiine"

I KNOW JUST WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT: Colby Cosh ruminates on the straitjacket that weekends are and how hard a freelance writer's life is. On the plus side, the National Post paid him promptly for the two pieces of his that they ran.

I know some people regard slow processing of freelance invoices as a sign of poor health in a newspaper organization, so I'd like to state for the record, assuming it's not some sort of breach of etiquette, that Canwest paid me super quickly for my first two National Post op-eds.

I wish I could say the same thing about some other major Canadian newspapers. One owes me for a piece they ran in April while others owe me from early last month. It's impossible to manage a budget or even to budget at all when you have no idea when the money is supposed to come. Then again, I fell into this way of life so I supposed I have to take the pain.

Read on.

Replies: 4 comments

Yep, the Globe still owes me $500 for a pro-war piece, and the damn war's over. Hate 'em or just really dislike 'em, the Star always paid me like clockwork, direct deposit.

Posted by Kathy Shaidle @ 07/28/2003 10:02 AM EST

Oh God! Is this what I have to look forward to?

Posted by James Barnett (novice freelancer) @ 07/28/2003 02:50 PM EST

Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Yuppers.

Funny thing, I got two checks today :-) That said, I'm still owed a rather large amount of money and VISA has this expectation, unreasonable I think, that I pay them periodically.

Posted by Steve Martinovich @ 07/28/2003 03:31 PM EST

Yes way, James. Another client -- who I just fired for late payment -- still owes me 2000.00. Your best bet is to have about six month's living expenses in the bank before you embark on this way of life.

Luckily, I have a steady contract (writing)position that pays the bills. And of course, we can all write off our expenses, including a fraction of our rent and utilities. Freelancing has its rewards, too!

Posted by Kathy @ 07/28/2003 04:26 PM EST