Comments on: Saying When

By: Lori

Lori — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:41:02 +0000

That's a pretty good indication, Carson. I found myself loathing the idea of opening the emails. The projects were one after the other, which were fine, but then they became more complicated with edits, phone calls, and hassles that sometimes extended miles beyond the fee I received.

When you feel chained to the desk because they expect fast response, it's time.

By: Carson Brackney

Carson Brackney — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:49:05 +0000

When it stops being fun.

There's not enough time in life to spend any more of it than is absolutely necessary doing things you don't like.

When I notice a tendency to put Client X's work lower on the to-do list because I just don't want to do it, that usually means it's time to either discuss changes to the project/relationship or to walk away (after meeting previously agreed upon obligations, of course).

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:05:42 +0000

Amie, how strange! I have had that myself, but not to the point where the paying client deosn't answer at ALL. You'd think with three ongoing projects, the client would be more responsive, especially if there was an upfront payment.

By: Amie

Amie — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:52:42 +0000

Here's another one for your list of break-up signs: complete and utter lack of communication.

I have three projects with one client that have stalled in various stages for this reason. Despite numerous calls and emails asking specific questions or requesting materials that I was told would be provided, I've never gotten a response. I've pretty much written her off...I don't even know if she would respond if I officially ended the relationship!

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:28:50 +0000

Oh amen, Valerie! All three are deal breakers. It sucks when #1 happens. Worse, it sucks when you stick with them out of some skewed sense of loyalty.

I agree - editing over the phone is a ridiculous requirement. Sometimes you just can't, especially when you have a herd all talking to you at once.

You said, "Too many clients think freelancers should be 'grateful' for work. We need to politely but firmly stand our ground with them."

Amen.

By: Valerie Alexander

Valerie Alexander — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:56:07 +0000

I've learned to walk away quickly from clients who:

1) don't respect writing and/or imply that anyone can do the job

2) want hours of chatting, phone calls, brainstorming and commiseration that aren't productive or billable

3) have unrealistic expectations in terms of turnaround time and project scope.

I just took a deep breath and let go of a tech client that was driving me crazy. Not only were some of the engineers I worked for practically illiterate and hostile over being edited, they expected me to "write" by viewing a document on a netmeeting, then dictating changes over a conference call. It was crazy.

Too many clients think freelancers should be "grateful" for work. We need to politely but firmly stand our ground with them.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:26:58 +0000

Wendy, I like your system. It's just like mine. I don't have to work M-F, 9-to-5, but for now I choose to. I work with corporates for the most part. Those are their hours. I accommodate as much as I can, but if you get a weekend, so do I. If you choose to work your weekends, sorry. Can't follow your example. I have priorities. Work is second. Always.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:58:47 +0000

I have been burned many times, but I have learned and am still learning. I now have set hours I work and that's that. When 5p. comes, (my time not their time)I'm done with any email or phone transactions. You've got a question or a request, it will wait until the next day. You don't like it, tough.

It's amazing how some clients can think that you should respond within seconds of them contacting you. When I was an employee, my time was demanded only during the set hours I worked. Even then, they understood if I was busy working on something else. Why should that be any different now that I'm a freelancer?

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:52:12 +0000

Yikes, Paula! That's the bunch? I'm glad you finally squeezed out payment from them. I remember these guys – what a horror story!

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:02:49 +0000

Another sign to add: Sudden change of ownership/management.

One place I wrote for early on had frequent turnover of young associate and assistant editors, but the two main editors remained the same. One even stayed on part-time after deciding to quit to be home more for her special needs child. Then out of the blue, a new team of editors came on board. None had actual experience at a business magazine (the newly minted Executive Editor had written a sports column for a small town daily, the new Senior Editor also has a sports background, I believe). They had no clue what they were doing, assigned stories that made no sense, then butchered good, clean copy so they could use bad puns as headlines, and squeeze in "quotes" from advertisers.

All of that happened virtually overnight. And yes, they were the ones who took 11 months to pay me for an article. My LAST article for that rag. (The magazine was soon sold to a new publisher that was able to turn it around and get a few more years out of it. Without the idiot editors, natch.)