A missing line in my contract cost me weeks of extra work

I agreed to illustrate a children's book for a set price, but the contract didn't state how many characters were included. The author later requested five more animal drawings without extra pay. I had to either lose the client or eat the cost. Now, I itemize every element in the agreement to prevent this.

4 comments

4 Comments

juliab331mo ago

Vague terms" is exactly the problem. I read a blog by a contract lawyer who said phrases like "a few" or "simple design" are basically invitations for arguments. Breaking it all down in a list feels awkward at first, but it turns a feeling into a real fact both people can see. It saves more headaches than it causes.

adamw151mo ago

Oof, totally feel that. @juliab33 saw a digital artist get burned with "some small edits" that turned into a full redraw, pure nightmare fuel.

the_emma1mo ago

Man, that's the worst kind of contract surprise. It reminds me of a friend who did website work based on "a few pages" and the client thought that meant like twenty. Getting those vague terms nailed down is everything now. How do you even start explaining itemized lists to a client who just wants a simple deal?

shane1701mo ago

What do you say when a client pushes back against your super detailed list? I frame it as us getting the exact same picture in our heads so we don't end up mad at each other later. It's not me being difficult, it's me making sure their project goes smooth.

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