Oops – is that your amateurism showing? I had some email correspondence recently with a client, and I can only say that despite the words in his email, I got the impression I shouldn’t trust him. Why? Because he used some “template” stationery that resembles a notebook page, and he signed all emails with “C…
Year: 2008
What’s That Huge Sucking Sound?
Alas, that noise that sounds like a Hoover pulling teeth from a squirrel – that would be this latest project. I sent a note to the Powers That Be on the 13th asking very pointed questions. That was a follow-up to the questions asked on the 11th, and it preceded the very direct question on…
Yin-Yang Up the Ying-Yang
The good news – payment arrived from the client of two posts ago. The bad news – it’s partial payment that includes just the first invoice I sent. The remainder is still AWOL. I suspect I’ll get it in two weeks per the agreement. In other news, I’m sick of the project. Why? Because I…
Discounts R Not Us
It’s strange – there are actually clients out there who believe that their actions, or lack thereof, have a direct bearing on what you’re to be paid. For a better explanation, go over to the Irreverent Freelancer blog and read her experience. I’m quoting Kathy a lot these days because her experiences are learning ones…
Clients and Other Animals
With a nod to Gerald Durrell Yesterday’s payment issue has yet to resolve itself. Funny how much time clients will attempt to buy with questions and proclamations of “I’ll check into it and get back to you.” What should have been an instant “Ooops. Yes, we’ll take care of it” is starting to stretch into…
Oh Nooo, Mister Bill!
You do the job, you send the invoice and … nothing happens. You contact the client again. Some excuse or reason is given, or you resend what apparently hasn’t arrived and …. again, nada. It’s a song-and-dance you’re forced to shuffle along to, and you don’t like it one bit. I’m tapping out this particular…
When to Say When
For every writer who’s proclaimed “Writing is my life!” there are slews of overworked writers aiming a finger of their choice at them. Over on Tess Gerritsen’s blog there’s a discussion about writers who are pushed by publishing houses to crank out more and more work in less and less time. The discussion revolves around…
The Cycle of Madness
Recently, a writer friend and I were talking about the cyclical nature of our business. We may be in the pink today and in the soup tomorrow, for projects come and go like buses and men who are no good for us. She and I were discussing the times we nearly tossed it in. Yet…
Spotting Stupidity
Fantastic post of the week – Jennifer over at Catalyst Blogger has a great post showing you the free offers out there and why you shouldn’t take them. Read this. It’s all you’ll need to know when cruising the job boards. Thanks, Jennifer!
Defining the Relationship
Heard from a writer friend recently about a client who hired him to do one thing, yet proceeded to expect quite another. He was hired to do editing on the client’s manuals, yet now the client is expecting full rewrites (on a project he had no hand in from the start). A bit brazen, no?…