Some authors need to go to charm school

Today I had an interesting email exchange with one of my authors. I am writing the book for him. The point of debate is too complicated to explain here, but it had to do with an idea he'd picked up somewhere that the writer/editor's job is to produce a perfect manuscript on the first draft.

I'd sent him about 6,000 words in a chapter that we agreed to finalize. He found nine relatively minor glitches, but was livid that I hadn't seen them. He was sure that if I'd taken one close look I would never have let those "errors" creep by.

I held my ground, we kept "talking," and we're on good terms now, I think. Except I told him I couldn't do any more work on the project until I received the second payment for having completed 25,000 or more words. These terms are clearly stated in the written agreement he signed. I haven't heard from him since, but I think I will, and we'll get the job done.

JG