I see why that upset you. The minute you decide to write a book — hell, even when you're still forming the idea — you're in business. What lousy advice to treat it like anything else!

Gabriella, another reason people fail, for sure. I remember a woman I'd been friends with — really like her, in fact. She'd asked me to hire her for a project. I did. I gave her a deadline. Three weeks AFTER the deadline, I finally caught up with her. "Yea, the subject was too hard (and it probably was), so I decided not to continue." Without telling me.

You guessed it — she's no longer freelancing. Big surprise, huh?

Paula, I remember that friend. I'm glad too that she stayed where she was!

Like you and Jenn, I get that sense, but thankfully only occasionally. I've actually dragged people to work for the same places when they've needed more writers. Why not? It fosters good will and it helps increase your own value to the client (because you have connections).

Eileen, I remember that story! It takes a lot of balls and a ton of stupidity to ask that of anyone. You're right — it's laziness a lot of times. This job is W-O-R-K, not play. It takes effort, and by gawd, if you're not willing to make that effort, give it up now.

Jenn, I would have sent a note out to each of those clients explaining that you're not associated with that person and have not referred them. How awful! That one could have ruined your stellar reputation by screwing up.

Eileen — That's crazy. It's one thing to ask a colleague what a publication's editor is like to work with before querying them. But it's something else entirely to ask for all of your contacts.

In one of my worst experiences, I had a copycat colleague. They were new, and they decided they would build their career by mirroring mine (and those of a couple of other colleagues). It was bad enough when they mimicked my branding and stole some of the copy from my professional site. But then I found out they were trying to poach my clients in a completely underhanded way (and thankfully clients let me know). They didn't ask for my contact list. Instead they browsed my portfolio and contacted clients they found there. When they pitched my clients, they had the nerve to tell the clients I referred them.

Lazy as all heck. And you're right. When they think they can succeed by riding someone else's coattails, it's a sure sign they'll never make it on their own.

Eileen, that sounds like people who expect you to refer them to your top clients! I've had that happen a couple times, total strangers wanting an "in" at a certain place. I just told them how I went about it – I researched, found a contact, mailed them a clip packet. Within a week I had my first assignment. But there's no way I'd play intermediary. (But now and then if I see someone I know writes well and has done the legwork but can't find the right contact, I'll gladly point them in the right direction.)

You're also right about the economy. It's an amazing time to be a freelancer. There are a lot of opportunities for freelance growth when companies are cutting back. You just have to know how to appeal to those kinds of clients.

I would have been insulted by that too! How crazy to just assume writing is easy and anyone can do it. Then again, those people often try and fail, and they're the ones I don't have much sympathy for because they don't take it seriously. Fortunately at least some of them learn the hard way and come back to the game better than before. As for the rest, well, I'm sure they have plenty of excuses to toss around.