Comments on: Writers, Work, and Weddings

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 12:34:51 +0000

Eileen, that's been my experience, too. When they push back, it's usually because their boss is wanting it yesterday.

Cathy, that's a life-saving statement, isn't it? :)

Ashley, staying sane is scheduled. :) They're all at work now, and my workload is light, so I've got a date with a book later this afternoon.

Paula, you're probably right. Her insecurity may be feeding that drive. I just hope she can keep reaching that high bar she's set for herself!

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 22:37:56 +0000

Lori, I think that writer friend is probably just a bit insecure. She knows there are a lot of good writers out there. Sometimes she might forget she's one of them. You'd think she'd realize her long-term clients are loyal to her for a reason: she always delivers exactly what they want when they need it. No one-shot substitute writer will ever match that.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 21:44:16 +0000

As busy as you are right now, Lori, a little extra time to stay SANE is important! We always need to take care of our clients, but we can't do that at the expense of our own health and well-being. Great tips on how to juggle without going crazy. You're doing an exemplary job!

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 19:41:48 +0000

I'm with Jenn. I don't know how you do it all.

I also agree with the consensus here that most clients are pretty flexible, especially if they have been working with you.

I have run across the occasional one who due to their own procrastination have an aggressive deadline. But you know the old saying, Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. :-)

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:52:40 +0000

In my experience, 99% of deadlines are arbitrary and/or negotiable. If you have an ongoing relationship with a client, chances are they'll be okay with waiting a few more days. Most of them, in my opinion, would rather have the security of knowing they'll get a good quality product a few days later than ideal, versus scrambling to find an untested writer who can bring it in on a shorter deadline. I had a case last year where I wasn't free to take on a project for 6 weeks. The client welcomed my referral recommendations because they said they needed it ASAP, checked out my referred writers, and 6 weeks later still hadn't pulled the trigger … and when I checked back with them, I got the work.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 16:22:41 +0000

Jenn, I'm not sure how I'm doing it, either. Right now, it's kind of all up in the air and somehow juggling just fine. :)

Paula, the weird sense of competition among writers never made sense to me. We work differently, and there are more than enough clients to go around. I'm inclined to think that if my client decides to work with a different writer, then that writer fits better. Maybe your writer friend is thinking she's being talked down to her clients? If so, she needs new friends AND new clients!

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 16:11:52 +0000

I've referred projects to other writers when time is too tight for me to accept another project. But I've found some clients will give you extra time when they know you're busy. Many will wait an extra week to get your full attention instead of fragments of your time.

I know one writer who would rather write herself into the grave with too much work than risk losing a client to another writer. It's a two-way street, but that writer is a road hog who thinks it's a one-way street. Guess which writer I'd be loathe to refer to a client in need?

By: Jennifer Mattern

Jennifer Mattern — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:29:53 +0000

I really don't know how you do it. I remember how crazy things can be with wedding planning especially with two so close together (remember how insane I was dealing with mine plus my brother getting married two weeks off?). I don't envy you. I hope they're both beautiful though and that you get to enjoy quite a bit of downtime once they've passed. :)

And great tips on the freelance front! I've used a mix of these tactics in the past, and they all have their place. I've found that most clients are extremely flexible, and the ones who aren't often don't use the work on schedule anyway when the project is completed (sometimes waiting months to release something simply because they lose track of time). In many cases they're happy to wait a bit to get the writer they want. And worst case, I refer the work to someone else. The client often still comes back for something else later. And if not, I don't worry about it. The more referrals you give, the more you tend to get, and it all balances out in the end. :)