Nobody understands what I do here

[mythteller]

I'm working on a new project to covert and edit some documents from Word to Frame. I analyzed the documents that were submitted, estimated the time, created a proposal, had it approved, and got to work.

When I finished converting ABC.book to Frame, I started editing it. Then my client gives me a new version of the document. I grumble "Is this the final version?" My client says it is, so I figure it has some minor changes to it. I finish my edit with the intention that I will compare the two versions and simply add what was changed to the new document.

I just looked at the new version of this document. It's not a NEW version as opposed to a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT version. Nothing in it is the same -- they are completely independent in every way possible. Okay... they have some similarities: they are both badly written.

What's worse, this new document (DEF.book) is twice the size of the ABC.book! It's like you give me a week to read Moby Dick and prepare a book summary, only to switch it on the last day with A Tale of Two Cities and say "You'll still have that report ready by tomorrow right?" I can, but it'll start off with the line "It was the best of whales, it was the worst of whales..."

So I go see my contact, explaining that I cannot deliver this today. He's incredulous. "But I promised the client I would deliver it today. Okay... just don't do a deep edit. Can you get it to me tomorrow?"

I wasn't supposed to come in tomorrow. I was supposed to only work today. *le sigh* He'd better hope I have no questions to be answered on this new document or he won't be getting it tomorrow either.

*grumble*

Comments

[owldaughter.livejournal.com]

"It was the best of whales, it was the worst of whales..."

This phrase gives me miles of joyful snerk.

People really don't understand what an editor does at all, do they. Do you have a clause in your contract addressing what happens if your client gives you a project that's substantially different form the one you signed for? Not a bad clause to add in. I think I saw one once, about significant changes (meaning a percentage, additions, or retroactive edits not done by you) at any point being treated as a new project entirely with deadlines and payment starting from zero again -- added on to th hours you've invoiced/racked up originally.

[jdhobbes.livejournal.com]

I'm glad someone picked up on the "whales" reference... *grin*

Yes, I do have a clause in my original contract that states a change in scope invalidates a previously submitted estimate. Hopefully, I won't be pushed back to it, but it's definitely there. My direct contact at the client is a pretty reasonable guy, so I don't think it'll be a huge problem.

But it's darn annoying.

In a way (and not in way that I would admit to my client), it is flattering that no one knows what we do as editors. When we do a good job, everything appears to be seamless and nobody gives it a second thought. If you do a bad job, then everyone wants to know who you are.

When you go see a play, you don't think about the competence of the lighting crew until spotlights start dropping out of the rafters, smooshing the actors.