What’s on the iPod: Better Together by Jack Johnson
Remember my sitting idle in November and December? Remember my wondering where all the clients were? I wasn’t worried – well, yes, I guess I was. I figured they’d be back, but I was eager to see them back sooner rather than later.
Well, in true feast/famine, cyclical nature, the clients have returned. In droves. Two projects came in back-to-back in email. Both projects are the kind that the clients need yesterday, and neither of the projects are small. I’m giving deference to one because there was some preliminary planning, but basically if I can swing them both, I’m doing it.
That’s on top of two other projects that came in last week. Plus a few projects coming in from another client. And the ongoing daily projects from yet another client. And the large project I’m developing, plus the other large one I’m working on…..
If this all hadn’t come directly on the heels of the famine, I’d not be so giddy and anxious at the same time. I love having so much work. I hate that it’s all due now. I love the notion of money rolling in at tax time. I hate that I’ll probably be dead or feeling close to it by then.
I’m being quite careful not to say yes to all this yet. The temptation as a writer is to take what comes when it comes and wear myself out, but I’ve learned that too many plates spinning means that something could fall for lack of attention. I’m not willing to sacrifice quality or my professionalism just because I think I can do it.
So when the feast brings more than you can eat, what do you do? Here are some things I’ve done/am doing in order to keep my sanity:
Price accordingly. Some of the “need it ASAP” requests are getting priced higher. Why? Because I may have to turn down another client’s projects to devote time to these ones. It may knock me out of their league or pricing structure, in which case I can relax a little.
Refer. In one case, the client is a referral from another writer, so I don’t want to pass the project on yet again. However, some of the other client work I may be able to refer if the price doesn’t fit or if the timelines are fixed.
Push back on deadlines. Sometimes the deadlines are all in their heads. When I have someone wanting something yesterday, I will almost always push back, especially if the timeline given seems too challenging. I’ll also ask if there’s a reason for such a tight deadline – is there a person somewhere waiting for this? Would a delay tie up someone else’s deadline? As the person expected to jump through that particular hoop, I need to understand just how fixed the deadline is.
Prioritize. I’m one of those people who can’t take on six things at once without some idea what needs to be done first. You shouldn’t be, either. For example, two projects I know will need ASAP treatment. One has a 10-day deadline and the other a four-week one (it’s a huge project). The ones in between have three-week deadlines or three-day deadlines, and are small enough I can work them in among the larger projects. I’ll schedule the work to be done days in advance so I know when I sit down what’s on the agenda that day, that minute.
How do you deal with a feast?
15 responses to “Overeaters Anonymous, Here I Come”
When there's a feast, I plan out my schedule carefully. Like you, I fit smaller things around larger things. I break down each assignment and map out what chunks of time I will need to accomplish them. I negotiate deadlines as needed. Nobody gets any kind of break on the price when my scheduled is crowded. I outsource pieces wherever I can: research, proof reading, and first draft writing. And sometimes, I just say no.
Sometimes we can, can't we? But sometimes the work is so much that it's not possible. I had a month like that two years ago (I think it was a February). I was slammed with work and I kept saying yes. I dropped the ball on one project (and lost the client permanently, I'm sure), and I vowed then never to take on more than I could handle.
Personally, I can't handle too tight of a deadline. If I can't handle it, I'll tell them what I can do and leave it to them. I've lost some opportunities that way, but I'd rather do a quality job and not a half-as*ed rush job just to please them.
I am bad for taking on too much. This week, for instance, I've started work at 8 each morning and stopped at 11 or 12 at night (with some good breaks thrown in of course). I'm glad my feasts usually come around this time of year. I deal with them by reminding myself that they will give me a cushion so I can enjoy my famines that usually come during the summer months.
I don't have kids, though. I'm sure that would change everything. Right now I'm free to just lock myself away and get it done.
I do all the things on your list. And, if I have to pull a few 18 hour days or an all-nighter here and there, that's what I do. But I'm adamant about rush fees. If I'm going to be up working hours I normally wouldn't be because someone else had an emergency, there's a price tag attached.
Of course, I'm used to working in theatre and film, where 18 hour days are the norm. As are overtime, time and a half, double time . . .
You are so right, Lori, about deadlines often being in their head. I try to control the deadline talk with 1st offering a targeted deadline-something along the lines of I should be able to get you the draft copy by such-and-such a date. Will that work for you?
I find that they rarely say no, it won't, but if they do, I either adjust my timeline if it will work or I let them know my current schedule won't allow for the shortened timeframe.
I'm in a similar situation. With what looked like a slow January, I agreed to that 2,500 word behemoth. Then a few small, quick projects came in – no problem since they're easy to squeeze in. I also have a mid-length article to write, due Friday. Just as i was about to write that, my Favorite Editor called asking me to write an intro and photo caps for something they needed soon.
Given that Favorite Editor pays very well (and quickly), I made that my top priority for about 24 hours. I interviewed the source yesterday and today I'll knock out the needed copy. I have another short thing due today, so that's also been one of my 24-hour priorities. The other pieces have to wait. Why? The publisher only pays a fraction of what the others do, given the amount of work per project.
With articles, I don't get to set a magazine's pay rates, so when there is a low-payer, I have no qualms telling them I set my priorities based on pay rates (and how quickly a client pays). If they want me to make their projects a priority, they can pay more. That's when they always extend the deadline instead of offering more pay.
I'm a graphic designer, but I've had a similar project feast in the past few days. Some are longer timelines, but here's how I handled the two rush jobs:
One client asked "can you have that by Friday" and I said I could promise Monday. It's not a big job, so if I can send it Friday, I will. But it takes the stress off to have another day. (Or the weekend, although I don't usually let clients know I work on Sat or Sun.)
Another client needs some quick but very creative work roughed out by Friday. I can do a couple of concepts in that time, but want to present more. So I actually hired another freelance designer who I know is great at concepts. I asked for whatever they can get done in the set number of hours I requested. If it works out, I'll be able to show the client a wider array of ideas in a very short amount of time, so I'll look like a superhero. And the other designer gets a quick payment for what would have been down time.
I sometimes add a rush fee for projects like this. For these (for a variety of reasons) I'm not, but I'll make sure to note "rush fee waived" on the invoices.
Wendy, having done one of those half-a**ed rush jobs, I agree 100 percent. It's why I push back on deadlines – I want it to be done right, not fast.
Krista, your schedule would kill me! I go addle-brained somewhere around 5:30 every evening, so nothing can be done coherently after that. I give you credit, but be careful you don't overdo it – no sense getting sick over it!
Devon, I couldn't do 18 hours. You're incredible! I can't stay focused on one thing that long. I'd much rather extend things a day and split up the time so that the job is done with my full attention.
Now I know why you don't take time off, Paula! LOL
Betty, those are terrific ideas! I love that you can push back on deadlines easily, but I love even more the fact that you can call for help on getting more concepts out. That's brilliant – and it doubles the odds of you securing the work. Amen to that!
I don't know what it is about your karma, Lori, but I like it. 🙂
I just got a call from a huge proposal I did in November and they want to move forward. We haven't mapped out all the details yet (it involves ads, brochures, website content and who knows what all, but it is definitely a boost in the income.
I also received acceptance on a case study yesterday.
Can you keep that good karma going for 11 more months? 🙂
Cathy, how come you're getting my karma? Save some for me! 🙂 Congratulations!
I'll do what I can. LOL
This afternoon, a former editor of mine called to see if I wanted to do what sounded like a fun local article. He only needed 800-1,000 words, but right now I'm swamped. Not having worked for him in over 10 years, I actually doodled down the lowest amount I'd consider accepting for the assignment (let's just say a higher per-word rate than I'm getting for the 2,500-word article that's drowning me). He was only $50 lower, so I told him the rate I had in mind. He was willing to negotiate.
Then common sense set it, and the thought of adding to my looming To Do List caused me to say,"This sounds like a fun article, and I'd like to do it but I'm really swamped right now. I also know you have a budget, so if you want to see if another writer can take it on – at your original rate – I won't be upset. Then I suggested a friend who is an ideal fit for the article, since it overlaps with one of her areas of interest.
Hey, if I don't get the assignment, I want it to go to one of my friends!
Better yet: Small project is completed and turned in. The fun rush assignment is completed and turned in (still confirming a few details, but it's in great shape). I'm about to start writing the shorter article that's due tomorrow. After that I can focus on the albatross.
That's a great idea, Paula! I think he may have appreciated your honesty. And he obviously loves your work to come back – and at your rate.
Lori wrote about me hiring another freelancer to help out with concepts: "That's brilliant – and it doubles the odds of you securing the work."
Just to be clear, the project right now IS the concepting, so I'm getting paid for that. There's a possibility that it will turn into another project later to create the final art, but I don't rely on possibilities. 🙂
Good news: One of the friends I suggested called last night to say he assigned the article to her. When he told her his pay rates, she told him for the work involved she'd expect the higher amount. He was thrilled (it was cheaper than I would have been, but not by much). They then discovered they had some lifelong friends in common, which led to a flurry of possible story ideas for the future, a way she could help him get a bit of free publicity for his magazine, and an agreement for them to discuss those things over coffee. She's really workin' it!