A collaboration contract does not have to be long or scary. In this video, I share a minimal collaboration agreement that’s just 14 sentences.
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Everything You Wanted to Know About the Public Domain But Were Afraid to Ask
Unlock the mysteries of the public domain without legal jargon. In this guide for creatives, discover how to use, adapt, and create freely.
Getting clarity, collaboration mistakes + negotiation is expected
Hi Reader! The goal of a contract is to pre-determine what will happen when likely hiccups occur. But you can’t foresee everything. A contract also shouldn’t include ALL the unlikely hiccups that might happen, because then every contract would be dozens of pages long. So your goal needs to be to balance the length of your contract with the risks involved in this exact project. This means maybe in your formal client contracts, you want them to be several pages long so that you can cover all…
The three silent mistakes that quietly ruin collaborations
Three small mistakes cause big problems in collaborations. Learn what they are and the simple sentence you can use to fix each one right away.
Name one assumption, collaboration disconnects, what’s not included + your weekly roundup
Hi Reader! Collaborations are supposed to be fun, which is why we approach them differently than client work. With clients, we worry that they will treat us poorly. But with collaborators, we assume that everything will go smoothly. And so we don’t have the same conversations (or put the same contracts) in place before we dive in. That’s exactly what breaks most collaborations: unstated assumptions. And we only realize that we had different assumptions when something happens. When they use…
Why collaborations go sideways and the tiny fix that stops it
Learn the simple disconnect that causes most collaboration hiccups and the 6-sentence email script you can use to keep creativity moving.
Smoother relationships aren’t about luck, what conversations are part of the contract + your weekly roundup
Hi Reader! One myth that I try to dispel is that smooth working relationships are just plain luck. They are about putting the right guardrails in place, so your clients know what to expect and aren’t making assumptions about what you want/expect/need from them. Most clients aren’t bad. They just don’t know what “good” is to you. Which is why when I write contracts, I start our kickoff meeting with the question, In a perfect world, what’s the exact process someone would go through from the…
The one contract you need to protect your creative business
You do not need six separate documents to protect your creative business. You need a single, well-structured contract that matches your working style. Learn what it looks like and why it’s the foundation for a thriving creative business.
Why client boundaries break down (and how to prevent it)
Most clients aren’t “bad”, they just are unaware or unsure of your boundaries. Why? Because your contract doesn’t hold up when things get messy. Learn how to write contract clauses that predetermine outcomes and protect your time, so you don’t end up renegotiating mid-project.
Copyright info in metadata + avoiding refund and reschedule drama
Hi Reader! This week, I met with a client who’s dealing with someone taking images from her e-commerce shop and using them to sell knockoff products on another site. As part of our conversation, I downloaded one of the images from her shop and noticed that she didn’t have the copyright information embedded in the metadata. And I suggested she change this ASAP. I suggested this because the removal or alteration of metadata copyright information is another available avenue for a lawsuit. And…
Refunds and reschedules without the drama
You finally booked the client, you blocked your calendar, and then they canceled last minute. Or they tell you they’ve changed their mind and they want their money back. Refunds and reschedules are common, but they don’t need to derail your business (or ruin your monthly revenue). Last-minute cancellations and refund requests feel unfair because […]
How systems help, new YouTube series + your weekly roundup
Hi Reader! This has been a busy week; Ozzy and I left Wyoming and are halfway south to Arizona for the winter. I got the chance to shadow some experienced pickleball referees at a tournament (where Ozzy and I also were able to cheer some of our friends on who were playing). Both Ozzy and I had our routine medical appointments. And I’m getting everything organized to host the Copy + Paste Legal Week again. It’s been a little hectic, to say the least. When things are busy like this, I am so…
