She did. And I can tell you from personal experience, it’s what I did, too. She kept digging for work. She didn’t reach out to three people and sit back and wait. She’s also not one to do this. She reached out to former clients, clients who were currently not handing her a project, and existing clients who might need one more thing.

You can also try reaching out and asking if they know anyone who needs some help. I managed to get a few clients that way over the years.

The biggest thing I can recommend is that you always market. Always. If you need help on how to do that, look on this blog for the Marketing tags.

Make sure you’re looking months out at what work is headed your way. If you don’t see anything, act now. The more you have on your desk, the better it will be when there is a lull in your workload.

Maybe we need to treat every potential contact as whether or not they’re worthy of the extra stamp, what do you think?

Oh, I’d never compete like that with work. Treat me like a pro, not like a contestant. You were so smart to suggest they shop that elsewhere. It’s the lack of follow through that’s killing these writers’ careers. It’s a shame because it’s an easier fix than they’re willing to take.

Not long ago I had a lengthy chat with a semi-established freelancer. Only one client, and they were having issues with the editor there encouraging different writers to cover the same things, then publishing whichever one came in first. I pointed out that’s not a very professional client. The writer had a solid idea, so I suggested sending a query one an editor I know would at least consider it, and even if the editor couldn’t use it they would encourage the writer to send more ideas. You guessed it. The writer never queried the editor.

It’s bad enough when beginners back out on contacting editors or clients they don’t know. But when someone offers an introduction and you still can’t be bothered to send in an idea, that’s just sad.

Those are great stories, Gabriella! I love that he realized the value in your price, though they often don’t see it until they’ve spent it unwisely elsewhere.

Isn’t that interesting how you finally got work from that guy?! I love it. It goes to show you that sometimes it just takes a longer time. You never know with some prospects. I remember a tire-kicker not so long ago. “How much for this?” and “How much for that?” often doesn’t lead to anything. But dang if they didn’t hire me and I worked with them for three years.

I think the real threat is when we rely on it and stop marketing. Just keep swimming, right? 🙂

I don’t remember how long it took, but when I first started out, I emailed a bunch of potential clients with story ideas. I don’t remember if I ever followed up. Probably once or twice. That’s typically what I do. And literally years later, to my utter surprise, that guy got in touch, and I’ve been working with them for years now.

Here’s a twist on your topic, don’t think a rejection is final. In 2008, I did a writing test for a new website. The guy liked my writing but balked at my price. I held firm, politely. Then about four months later, the guy got back in touch and essentially said, “I learned you get what you pay for.” And we’ve literally worked together for 17 years. My longest-term client. I didn’t check in with that guy after the rejection, but today I know it would have been smart: “Hey, how are things going? Still here if it turns out you do need my help.”