The Paper It's Written On: Defining your relationship with an editing client

by Karin Cather, Dick Margulis

You’re an independent editor. That means you’re a professional running a business.

But you may not be a professional at running a business. You keep hearing that you should have a written contract with every client, but you don’t have a good idea of what that contract should have in it, so you let it slide and hope you don’t get burned. And when you look in books about running a small business, none of them seem to address your specific needs.

The Paper It’s Written On focuses on your specific needs, particularly when you are working with individual authors.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

82 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2018

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for (specifically) book editors wanting to set up contracts with meaningful contingencies that cover situations that just aren't an issue for many other kinds of freelancers.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, concise little book that gives straightforward advice on what can be a gnarly topic. Contracts can feel intimidating and sometimes unnecessary, but the authors explain why each bit of a contract may be necessary (or not) and offer example scenarios and even potential wording. As someone who hates the “business” side of freelancing but is desperate to “do it right,” this was the most straightforward coverage of what felt like an overwhelming topic. Now I just have to put it into practice....

[The Biased Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to recommend one book to a freelance editor, this would be it! The information in the book is invaluable. Whether you are a new freelancer drafting a contract for the first time or a seasoned freelancer wanting to polish your contract, this is the book for you. I appreciated how the contents were both thorough and to-the-point. Cather and Margulis wrote in a way that is both humorous and easy to understand. I would absolutely love for the authors to continue publishing books about editing. As a whole, this book is a must-have for freelance editors!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guidance

Freelance editors are often unaware of the protection a contract can provide for both them and their clients. This book provides that information in a conversational style that nevertheless covers all the bases. Of perhaps the most value are the two sample contracts. Great resource!

[Aime Sund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, thoughtfully organized, and concise, this book contains what every freelance editor needs to consider when working with clients. I am glad I read it and that I have it as a reference to use as necessary. I'll be analyzing my own contract with the suggestions presented in the very near future!

[Joanna Among Paper Petals · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect to devour this book so quickly, even though it was short. Some of the information I already knew, but there was quite a bit that I didn't know either and I had to look at the templates in the back or look up the meaning to fully comprehend what the authors were talking about.

This is an excellent place to start when 'defining your relationship with an editing client.'

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what I needed

This book is what I needed; a clear, step-by-step explanation of editor's contracts. It shows how to build one, with excellent explanations for each element and two examples at the end. Reading this has alleviated my angst over the process by at least 75%.

[Lori Goshert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give it six stars if I could! A concise look at contracts for freelance editors (applicable to other creative professionals) that has all the essentials, plus sample contracts. Just what every freelancer needs.

[Lida · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book after seeing it repeatedly recommended and am glad I did. While I already had a strong contract, the explanations in this book helped me understand the different points clearly.
I plan to refer back to this frequently. Highly recommended!

[Ema N]

A concise and very practical guide for freelance/independent editors on what to consider when creating contracts. It has good examples and is explained in a way that a layperson can understand. It's US-based but likely to be useful for people working in other countries as well.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure gold for freelance editors. The kind of thought-provoking advice you didn't even know you needed.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what you need to know to create and customize a contract for editorial work. Clearly written, with nothing important left out and nothing extraneous added.

[Adrielle]

Helpful and a quick read!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best and shortest books on contracts for freelance editors I've read. I wish there was more, but this does the trick nicely!

[Tony D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super useful! Rating is for the revised and expanded second edition, now available as an ebook as of April 2025.

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one most important book for freelance editors to have on their shelf, together with their style manuals. It is a tiny thing of 70 pages that contains all the information an editor needs to put together a freelance contract. Surprisingly, it also has little helpful anecdotes here and there, as well as the more expected model contract clauses and two entire model contracts at the end. While it is not a law book, it is a helpful, readable tool for crafting an editor contract.

[Katherine]

Excellent advice that made my T's & C's a breeze.