He's probably not written back because he's trying to read up on rights. Well, probably not, but wouldn't it be great? 🙂

I'd tap him on the shoulder and see what's going on.

Next day I had three "assignments" from him that he needed turned around quickly. No contract. No email agreement. No terms mentioned. Just "Call and we can discuss." Sorry. I need it in writing. I emailed back saying before I could accept any assignments I'd need to know the specifics, in writing, including what rights he wants to purchase. I also told him I'm fully booked through mid-March. He replied saying he could wait a couple weeks, and then asked what I meant about rights. What? You're hiring writers so you can publish a book and don't know what rights you need? I explained if he wants to be able to reuse or reprint the copy, he'd need a Work for Hire agreement, which would cost more than the rate he was offering.

It's been about a week and no further word.

Cathy, that's where I'd draw the line, too. It's too much "busy work" to track your hours and fill in time sheets. I had to do that once for a client, but they made it simple. They sent over the sheet and asked me to guesstimate per month based on the hours I'd worked. Since I track my hours anyway, it wasn't a huge deal. They'd already filled in the project names.

Damaria, that takes a lot of nerve for a company to send someone to push you into it! I'm glad you were able to be firm, too. That would have left a sour taste with me. I might have to outline in email (so she can't forget it) that every new addition requires a new fee, and will have to wait for my availability.

It's like a project I handled two weeks ago. They needed it NOW, and I did it, but as I was finishing they were talking about "the extended part" of the project. First time I'd heard of it. My response: "I have time at the end of the week to chat about that new project and what it will cost."

It's a message we have to send if we expect people to respect our time, which should be compensated.

As late as yesterday, I had an incident where the client had been sneaking in bits and pieces of deliverables into existing work. I'd had a chat with her last week, explaining that those additions cost me time and money, and while they didn't seem like a big deal, they added to my own workload. I also didn't like that bad aftertaste of feeling used, I said.

And lo and behold, the next day she sneaked in something again, getting someone else to send me the work so she didn't have to ask me directly. I emailed her saying the work would not be done. So she sent a minion to meet with me, ostensibly to collect the documents, but when he arrived, he tried to persuade me that they really need the work done. My own inference was that the client had learnt some time back that persistence eventually pays off. Which it does, as long as you don't annoy the other party. I was very polite, friendly and firm in my NO.

I always try to be polite and respectful even when I'm delivering a firm No. And sometimes I cave, because it seems so petty to make a big deal of the changed parameters. But I've made my peace with that.

It's not arrogance that makes me do it (I've been accused of that) It's just plain need. How can I run a profitable, sustainable business if I'm consistently bogged down with work I neither agreed to, planned for and will not get paid for?

That said, clients who play a straight, fair game may find me more amenable to doing extra, for my own reasons.

A recent prospect wanted to include a daily accounting of my work and the hours worked in their contract. I advised I would not accept those terms but if it was non-negotiable, I would respectfully decline their offer. They removed that language.

I have to keep reminding myself "It's business!" For them, and for me. I'm not doing this to make friends, but to earn a living. And they're not hiring me to be their friend, but to get a job done.