Skip to content

Words on the Page

a freelance writing resource.

Menu
  • Blogs Worth Reading
  • Courses
  • Ebooks
  • Free Writers Worth eBook
  • Guest Posting Guidelines
  • Home
  • Marketing 365
  • Monthly Assessment
Menu

Author: lwidmer

Free Advice Friday: Extracting Pay from Writing Clients

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Call Girl Blues by Diamond Rug Snow. I love it. Good thing, because late Wednesday night after we’d gone to bed, it started coming down. By morning, we had over 6 inches in the driveway and it just kept coming down. I’m writing this ahead of time should the power decide…

Read more

7 (More) Deadly Writing Career Sins

Posted on by lwidmer

What I’m reading: The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri What’s on the iPod: Right in Time by Lucinda Williams What a couple of days. That cushion of time I had last week to finish two articles vanished thanks to whatever this latest winter storm was called — Nika maybe? I’m sorry the term “Snow-mageddon” was ever…

Read more

Lessons from a Powerless Writing Life

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers Valley Forge Mountain damage: photos by my husband Well, that was interesting. Four days — 101 hours almost to the minute. That was the longest I’ve ever lived without power. I suspect the news got national coverage, but just in case you’re hearing…

Read more

Monthly Assessment: January 2014

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Jumper by Third Eye Blind You’re getting a lot of posts out of me this week. That’s because there seems to be a lot to talk about. Snow, more snow, and work are piling up. I got a last-minute article request on Tuesday for a short sidebar piece and right now…

Read more

Your Writing Revenue Sweet Spot

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: This is London by The Airborne Toxic Event The view from the kitchen door It’s been a week of wheel-spinning. I spent Monday thinking I’d get so much done, but spending the majority of the day shoveling (and re-shoveling) the driveway. Ten inches later, I cried uncle and went inside. By…

Read more

Snow Days and the Writer

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Invisible by U2 (free until midnight on iTunes) View from my front walk Congratulations to Seattle Seahawks fans! Your team shone like diamonds yesterday, much to the dismay of the Denver Broncos. To Broncos fans, my condolences. Your team is better than one performance, so congratulations to them for making it to…

Read more

Free Advice Friday: Writing a Terrific Query

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Katharine Song by Runaway Dorothy (link below) It feels like the world is starting to return to its normal orbit. Not that things were completely a-kilter, but I did get the sense that my work life (and home life, for that matter) were a bit on the random side. Given the…

Read more

This Writing Job, Not That Writing Job

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: It Doesn’t Matter Anymore by Linda Ronstadt Yesterday was a bit fuzzy for me. I woke up after my first good night’s sleep in over a year, but I couldn’t quite get going. I had taken a “PM” version of acetaminophen for a sinus headache and it left me groggier than…

Read more

Free Advice Friday: Getting in Touch With Writing Clients

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Blunderbuss by Jack White It’s been a good week. It started with disappointment — losing a client because of communication problems — but quickly turned around as new clients came into the picture. I’m on track to meet my monthly goals, so that’s a good thing. Today’s topic: how to contact writing…

Read more

7 Ways to Resolve Writing Client Problems

Posted on by lwidmer

What’s on the iPod: Baltimore Blues No. 1 by Deer Tick It’s turning into a busier week than I first expected. While I did lose one project, I picked up a few more. It’s clearly January, for the clients are coming out of the walls again. Sadly, one project ended because the client felt he…

Read more
  • Previous
  • 1
  • …
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • …
  • 267
  • Next
  1. Cathy Miller Avatar
    Cathy Miller

    The bottom line is fix it. That may mean revisions you hadn't planned on. Depending on the situation, I may or may not charge additional. For example, once I did almost a complete revision on a white paper for a long-time client. No small task. It was the first time we had a pretty big disconnect. I think it was in part that they were not as available to give me the data I needed. But, I also recognize that I have a tendency to take the ball and run with material I am more familiar with. Something corporate bosses loved, but may not always be the path to take in freelancing.

    You are right, Lori. Finding fault accomplishes nothing. Just fix it. Even if that means parting ways.

    Reply
  2. Lori Widmer Avatar
    Lori Widmer

    I've had to do both, Cathy. Once I wrote a fantastic article…only it was on the wrong topic. It took me two days of hellish work, but I gave them what they'd ordered. Dumb mistake on my part. And I've said goodbye to clients who didn't want me to fix things, but just wanted to move on.

    We just have to remain professional about it. Pointing fingers and getting all heated isn't professional. It's a clear sign to the client that you're the wrong writer.

    Reply
  3. Jenn Mattern Avatar
    Jenn Mattern

    Timely post Lori! Hubby and I were just having a conversation about tactfully dealing with a "who's right / who's wrong" issue in his business the other day.

    In this case one of the client's marketing people started expressing his discontent about a development project not being finished yet. The problem? They blew it early on by having him reserve time for their project and then jerking him around because they didn't sort things out with another contractor.

    So, um, yeah. It's going to be finished later than you hoped when you delay him by weeks because you have to have someone else move everything to your new server first, and you didn't give that person a set deadline. And now they get to wait until he can squeeze the in again because he already had other contract work lined up, which they knew. Ugh.

    He's too tactful to put the marketing guy in his place though. Thankfully it's not who he normally works with with that client.

    Reply
© 2026 Words on the Page | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme