Every day, freelancers and independent artists
negotiate deals and make sure they’re treated fairly by clients and collaborators alike. I want to share those stories with you because I think they’re inspiring and important to hear. This week I talk to author Jodi McIsaac about her experience negotiating her first publishing contract. I met Jodi at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in October. She’d been a SiWC...
Preconceptions suck. They’re usually wrong, for starters, and in the context of a negotiation, they can mean that you waste a lot of time combating what the other person thinks they know about you rather than dealing with the actual issue. Common preconceptions in negotiating include: women don’t
negotiate; artists are bad at business; freelancers make a pile of money because they don’t have overhead expenses; large businesses have a pile of...
I want you to think of the most annoying person you’ve ever had to
negotiate with. Now think of the absolute best person you’ve ever
negotiated with; your favorite negotiating partner. Why were you negotiating with them? No, not what were you negotiating about. Why were you negotiating with that particular person? You’re not alone if your answer is, “Because that’s who I was told to
negotiate with.”...
One of the many side benefits of writing this blog is that I get to hear about a lot of really cool projects that people are tackling. A book idea they’re hashing out with a collaborator; an anthology contribution; a brand new webcomic. But all too often when I hear about one of these projects, the creator will tell me, “But I can’t use any of your negotiation techniques yet because I don’t do big enough projects,” or worse “…because this...
Negotiation isn’t magical or special or overly difficult. Negotiation is just two people talking about how they can solve a shared problem. How you talk about that problem, how you use information, and how you approach the other person makes the difference between a good negotiation and a difficult one. Here’s how to make your negotiations not just good, but rock star good. Know What You’re Working For When you were a kid, what did you dream of...
One of the many side benefits of writing this blog is that I get to hear about a lot of really cool projects that people are tackling. A book idea they’re hashing out with a collaborator; an anthology contribution; a brand new webcomic. But all too often when I hear about one of these projects, the creator will tell me, “But I can’t use any of your negotiation techniques yet because I don’t do big enough projects,” or worse “…because this...
I gave a training on negotiation a few weeks ago and in preparation found myself flipping through Getting to “Yes!” again. Written by Roger Fisher and my sometimes negotiation boyfriend William Ury, Getting to “Yes!” was originally published in 1981. It remains one of the very best books you can read about interest based negotiation, and if you haven’t read it, set aside an hour or two and slam through it. In...
Negotiating is something you can do. No matter how intimidating you might find it or inexperienced you may feel, you can be a negotiation rock star. Part two of the rock star “How To” guide starts after the jump. If you’re just joining us, catch up by reading part one first. Ask Questions If you’re going to try and find a solution that works for both parties, you need to know what everyone wants. The easiest way to find out...
