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<p>He writes:</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined">When I first became an editor, back
when your ma was wiping strained prunes off your chin,
newsroom negotiations were simple. Things tended to go like
this:</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Editor:</b> I’d like you to
write a 900-word story about figs.</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Freelance writer:</b> Okay.</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Editor: </b>I will pay you $300
for this story, which you need to complete by next Friday.</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Writer:</b> Those terms are
acceptable. I will do a good job, consistent with my abilities
and the time allotted.</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Editor: </b>Don’t be a jackass
during the editing, okay?</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Writer: </b>No problem. Don’t edit
it like imbeciles, okay?</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined"><b>Editor: </b>You got it.</p>
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<p class="font--body font-copy color-gray-darkest ma-0
pad-bottom-md undefined">(They shake hands.)</p>
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<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/gene-weingarten-how-about-i-rewrite-that-contract-for-you-mr-lawyer/2019/11/13/38e304f6-f4db-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html">https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/gene-weingarten-how-about-i-rewrite-that-contract-for-you-mr-lawyer/2019/11/13/38e304f6-f4db-11e9-8cf0-4cc99f74d127_story.html</a></p>
<p>...that was then.<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Gabriel Goldberg, Computers and Publishing, Inc. <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:gabe@gabegold.com">gabe@gabegold.com</a>
3401 Silver Maple Place, Falls Church, VA 22042 (703) 204-0433
LinkedIn: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/gabegold">http://www.linkedin.com/in/gabegold</a> Twitter: GabeG0
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