Jill:

A typical payment model would be to provide a third up front (advance); a
third upon completion of the essay; and the final third upon publication.
The contract should include deadlines and deliverables, so that it is clear
what the writer's responsibilities are, and when the tasks are due.

You could pay more incrementally, based on the deliverables (25% up front;
25% when manuscript is finished; 25% when proofing is complete; 25% on
publication).  It depends on your schedule, the complexity of the task and
the size of the job & compensation.

Kirsten Hammerstrom
Curator, Rhode Island Historical Society
110 Benevolent Street
Providence RI 02908
(401) 331-8575 x124


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jill" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 5:36 PM
Subject: freelance essay writing.


> I have a question:
>
> If your museum has contracted a non-employee to write an essay for a
> catalogue, what kind of payment schedule is usual?
> In payments along the way, some in advance, increments upon draft
> submissions and rewrites, or a full and final payment when the project
goes
> to press? Is it unreasonable to withhold at least a portion of the payment
> until the author has proofed the galleys?
>
> Jill R. Chancey, Curator
> Lauren Rogers Museum of Art
> Laurel, MS
> (phone) 601-649-6374
> (fax) 601-649-6379
>
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