Comments on: Top 10 Phrases No Freelancer Wants to Hear (and How to Fix Them)

By: Allison

Allison — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:42:29 +0000

To Davidlongriver:

You wrote: “Work hard, work smart, try to work for reasonable people, but in the end, as a freelancer, you get what you get.”

With a defeatist attitude like that, you’ve doomed yourself before you’ve even begun. Tell me why professional freelancers should be amenable to settling for less than anyone else in their field?

By: ac

ac — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:37:28 +0000

I’ve got to take exception to the fix for #8. I *never* apologize and say “I’m sorry” to a rude person for their rudeness/disappointment/whatever. I will say “I regret that you feel this way.” This applies to professional and personal dealings with rude/childish people. When I screw up, sure, I apologize then, but when someone else is just being a jerk, that’s their fault, not mine.

By: Nafeesah

Nafeesah — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:26:58 +0000

There should also be a clause that clients give their real name address and phone number since many of us have deal with clients who only deal with you via email and some who refuse to pay and you can’t even track them down.

By: classicalgeek

classicalgeek — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:36:54 +0000

for #6, I have the solution. I have a friend who owns a debt collection company. He can find even the most evasive clients and convince them to pay.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:10:12 +0000

I never want to run into a #8…
somehow I don’t think I’ll be the type to grin and bear it

By: Colleen R.S.

Colleen R.S. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:24:13 +0000

Excellent suggestions. I think I’ve delt with all ten of these just this week! It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who is faced with these challenges.

By: Marc

Marc — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:54:54 +0000

Five years of free lance architectural graphics taught me that the client is not happy unless he feels he has cheated you. He has to go away from the project believing that he’s gotten something for nothing. The trick is to build some wiggle room into your contract so that you get paid what you deserve while making it look like you’re taking a bath. One way of doing this is to provide an estimate that’s much higher than what you expect to charge, then offer it as a “guaranteed maximum price” and offer to work for time and materials within this context. Thus, if you expect to take ten hours to do the job, offer a GMP reflecting 20 hours, then bill them for 15 and “give back” the remaining five. They’re happy (they feel they’ve gotten their job for less, and you’re happy (you worked 12 hours, billed for 15, and walked away with the client’s gratitude).

As a friend of mine, a wood carver, puts it “When they get out the chisel, you get out the gouge.”

By: davidlongriver

davidlongriver — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:18:26 +0000

When you do “freelance” you are advertising yourself first of all as “free.” Each of these 10 phrases are things we’ve all heard time and time again, and guess what? They are the realities of life as a free–lancer and there are NO, NO fixes that work time after time. Work hard, work smart, try to work for reasonable people, but in the end, as a freelancer, you get what you get. Sometimes you get paid what you’re worth, sometimes you don’t get paid at all. Sometimes your work gets respect and sometimes the clients are so disfunctional they would not know great writing if it hit them in both eyeballs. No whining, no looking back, no regrets. Write and remember that you are “free” and freedom has its price.

By: #7

#7 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:53:51 +0000

The word’s spread. I think karma is powerful, too. Having the IRS tracking you can’t be a joyful experience.

By: #4

#4 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:07:54 +0000

YIKES, #7, let’s hope that’s an extreme example. I hope you spread the word on Preditors & Editors and/or similar sites.

By: #7

#7 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:51:14 +0000

Hi #4. I’m way too familiar with “You should be getting your check any day now.” Last summer one of my biggest clients went belly up. But not before they strung me along for months. I did get 2/3 of what I was owed simple because I required a deposit and religiously called to remind them that they owed me money. Last I hear the CEO was in Canada hiding from the IRS.

By: #4

#4 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:14:30 +0000

#11, I will take out my boxing gloves and battle you right here, right now. Just kiddin’… I didn’t realize you were talking about later stages of a client’s irresponsibility, but what you said was right on the money, so thanks!

Jenna, it was my pleasure. I’m glad you liked it!

#12, whoa, that’s hardcore. I suppose that’s one way to deal with an unreasonable client, but I’m not sure I’d go that far. People have lots of different working styles, and even if I thought a client was insane, I’m aware that many other people may not think that and may even enjoy working with the client. But hey, if that works for you, then great.

By: #12

#12 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:05:32 +0000

I’ve found the best way to deal with rude clients is to say, “I’m sorry my work didn’t meet your visions,” and offer to rework it (within my revision clause parameters). If they want a new writer or throw a hissy, I calmly bow out, then give their name to a certain “writer” I know who not only isn’t such a great writer (I know, I’m mean… but honest!) but also has a bloated ego and a wicked temper.

By: jenna

jenna — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:48:38 +0000

Good, common knowledge.
Thanks for the post.

Jenna K.

By: Candidate #11

Candidate #11 — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:10:56 +0000

@#4, sorry, I wasn’t trying to take away from your response. I was thinking past late fees, when you’ve billed multiple times and they still don’t pay.

By: #4

#4 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:55:15 +0000

Mary and Genesis, thanks! Your nice words are very much appreciated.

By: Genesis

Genesis — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:21:43 +0000

Excellent post, very well done. And, unfortunately, very true. I´ve dealt with many of these issues myself.

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:58:41 +0000

Good list, but what I really liked about it was that you didn’t just list 10 problems — instead you went a step further and gave readers real solutions they could use to fix their freelancing problems.

Great Job!

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:11:15 +0000

Richard,

While I agree three days is too tight, if they provide resources WHO ARE AVAILABLE, it’s not unreasonable — look at daily newspapers. Of course, they’re not starting cold. Also depends on other clients who already have time committed to them. In slow periods, and if sources are available, 1,200 words in three days is doable — being able to meet tight deadlines will also give one a selling point for future work. It also leads to a lot of stress, though, so each writer has to decide when the stress isn’t worth it.

One possible suggestion: Impose a “rush” fee.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:02:07 +0000

@ #4: No, the client passed on it and said they needed it in three days. Made me suspicious. I suspect he’s the same guy who will go to a mechanic and say, “I need my engine completely rebuilt. Can you have it done by the end of the day?”

The mechanic would spend the rest of 2008 laughing himself into a hernia.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:01:39 +0000

@ #4: thanks for the heads up.

By: #4

#4 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:32:59 +0000

And FYI, Adam, the link on your name to your Web site doesn’t work.

By: #4

#4 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:32:12 +0000

Aww, Adam, thanks. I appreciate it.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:22:22 +0000

This was very original. I liked the angle and the presentation.

By: #4

#4 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:39:51 +0000

Ann, yikes! Those are examples of instances that I also wanted to point out to Dee. Dee, your clients are incredibly lucky! When I wrote this list, though, I didn’t have reasonable clients in mind… I had the kind of clients in mind that Ann mentioned. Fortunately, there aren’t tons of them out there, but every so often you’ll realize you’re working for someone who is totally unreasonable, and this list is meant to be a few suggestions for how to handle those clients.

Ann, I am confounded as to why that client might have possibly thought it would be “easier” for you to handle a work matter NOT DURING YOUR WORK HOURS. I’m glad you stuck to your principles there.