Today’s the day I tell a prospective client that his project is not a good fit for me. It’s unfortunate as I think the guy’s nice, but I’ve asked repeatedly for and have not received the project outline or notes. What I have received are musings that are nowhere near related to the project as outlined in our client meeting. Each request from me garners one more unrelated snippet or link to something funny or some other story that’s just not what we talked about. Maybe they’re all supposed to be related. If so, I’m still backing away. If the communication at this stage in the process is so out of whack, imagine trying to bring order to it once we get underway.
That, however, is not the only reason I’m dropping the project.
There seems to be a level of heightened expectations about how this straightforward project will somehow solve numerous personal crises for the client. I’m a writer. I’m not a therapist, life coach, custody attorney, divorce mediator, or savior. It’s too much to be expected of one person. When I met with him, I had my doubts, but he was genuinely nice and had what appeared to be a pretty standard project goal. Since that meeting, I’ve come to realize there’s just too much emotion attached (and we’re talking from additional family members who have also contacted me since that client meeting) for me. Way too much.
And to add one more level of “No you didn’t” to it, he introduced me to his friend and said, “She’s writing my project for me – we’re paying her with the proceeds of the pre-sale!” Oh no you’re not. I work for present currency, not potential currency.
The toughest thing you as a freelancer will face is walking away from a promised check. But there are projects (and people) that just don’t fit. Suppose I took this project based on this client’s promise of “payment from proceeds.” What if only 25 people pre-order the book? What if only 3 do? Please, if you’re ever offered a “percentage of sales” or any other “promise” of future payment, turn and run.
Suppose also I did get payment up front (as you should, too), but the project didn’t deliver what the client expected (all those emotional/legal additions that are his and his alone). How can I, as a writer, take on a project for someone who expects the project to say pay for his father’s nursing care or avert his neighbor’s impending lawsuit against him? I can’t. And his disappointment may land us in court should he decide I didn’t do a good enough job. Again, run.
There’s no need to mention what bad communication between your client and you can result in. You already know. And hopefully by now you can see those red flags waving and have learned to avoid them at all costs.
We’ve all taken on projects we shouldn’t have and have lived to regret it. What are some of yours? Do you have any deal breakers that help you decide?
I don’t take jobs that expect limitless revisions for nothing or that demand I am available via IM. I do not do business via IM. I return phone calls twice a day. The rest of the time, the phone is off, I’m mostly offline, and I’m WORKING.
If you want to reach me, email me; I check email every couple of hours. Unless someone’s in a life or death situation, it’s really not that critical to reach me instantly.
And I tend to avoid life-or-death assignments. I don’t want the responsibility for anyone’s life other than my own.
Good for you, listening to your instincts and walking away. That was a nightmare in the making.
Reflecting on this past year, I’ve learned to trust my gut. I’ve turned down potential clients/projects because of a few shady or shaky details that added up and spelled out a warning to me. Unclear details, like dancing around payment dates, or blurred task details or timelines, can cause alarm bells to go off for me.
I’ve got some of those alarm bells going off right now, and I don’t know if I’m trying to talk myself into or out of doing more work with this client. The client has a fantastic product, is perfectly positioned in their niche, they understand marketing, and they have plenty of work. The downside: I let myself be manipulated into providing about 3X the normal amount of work for the fee, and I had to repeatedly ask for them to send me the signed contract after they’d already sent the money. I am getting totally mixed signals from this client, and am unsure whether to hang in there and assume things will get easier as we get to know each other better, or cut and run now. Arrgh!
Eileen, I’d talk to them directly about what makes you uncomfortable. See how they respond. If they don’t help come up with a solution that works for both of you, I’d listen to those warning bells. The fact that you’re doing 3X work for the price is reason enough to cut your losses sooner rather than later.
In spite of lots of work, figure out how much income you’re losing by working for them at that rate.
I’m with Amanda on the gut-trusting. And that old saw, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” New year, new expectations!
How’d it go?
So far so good, Carrie. I got a one-word response to my detailed note. I’m fine with that (at least it wasn’t two words, if you know what I mean). He may not understand the reasons now, but when the next writer gives him similar concerns, it may make sense to him then.
Amanda, I couldn’t agree more. Intuition is the best guide. Mine has rarely steered me wrong.
Eileen, I agree with Devon. Since you’re on the verge of dropping them, it doesn’t hurt to open up and tell them what’s on your mind.
Devon, having been up against one “I need to be able to reach you from 8 to 8!” request, I wholeheartedly agree with you. No way. You pay me for that time I have to sit there or forget it.
So Angie, what are your new expectations this year? 🙂