Freelance Writing Blog

Ten Years Later, Still Taking No Prisoners

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Today is an auspicious day for two reasons. First, it’s my own personal holiday, and all work stops so I can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Also, today marks the 10th anniversary of this blog. It’s funny how far this blog has come and, in some ways, how much it’s remained the same. From the first…

8 Habits of Bad Writing Clients

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What I’m listening to: Whiskey in the Jar by Metallica Wow. It’s mid-March already? I don’t know how you’re doing but my March has been filled with project deadlines and new-client talks. Just as the pile of work starts to dwindle, more work comes in. While it was frenetic at first, now I’m seeing a…

6 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Freelance Writing Career

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What I’m listening to: Fast As You by Dwight Yoakam What a gorgeous couple of days! Yesterday was near 80 degrees, so all the windows were open. It’s tough to work under those conditions, so I took full advantage of my freelance writing status — I played hooky. Okay, not entirely. I had a great…

The Freelance Writer’s Fact Book

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What I’m listening to: Right in Time by Lucinda Williams I don’t know how it’s been for you, but March came roaring in like a lion for me. I dug out from under seven of the nine projects piled on my desk, and I’m happy to say organization, once again, saved my hide. Plus the…

26 Right-Now Ways to Market Your Freelance Writing Business

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What I’m listening to: Stressed Out by twenty one pilots It was rather timely that the song above (go on, take a listen) came up on my play list. I’d been feeling stressed as the week started, chipped through a ton of projects Monday through yesterday, and saw the list grow right back to massive…

Monthly Assessment: February 2016

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What I’m listening to: Downtown by Macklemore It’s amazing what a little organization can do for the productivity. I sat down yesterday around 8 am and by noon, I’d finished (and invoiced) three projects. The fourth was finished by 3 pm, and I finalized a new client contract, plus another contract from an existing client….

6 Leap Day Activities for Freelance Writers

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What I’m reading: Satin Island by Tom McCarthy What I’m listening to: Love Test by The Growlers What a weekend! The sun was out, the weather warmed up, and I was in the garden. We had a ton of rain this past week, some freezing weather, but the ground was soft enough to get the…

Writers Worth: This Job, Not That Job

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What I’m reading: The Warden by Anthony Trollope What I’m listening to: The Parting Glass by Ed Sheeran This week, this month, has been nuts. I’m clinging to Hump Day like it’s a life raft. I get one project draft completed and another one (or two) comes in. I keep everything scheduled and keep moving…

7 Freelance Writing Hacks That Optimize Your Time

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What I’m listening to: Wilderness by Middle Brother What a busy weekend. We spent Saturday at the home show in the city — waste of time. The majority of the vendors were selling doors, bed sheets, sheds, steam mops….and we were there for kitchens. Besides that being totally annoying, there were way too many vendors…

4 Ways to Inject Confidence into Your Freelance Writing Negotiations

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What I’m listening to: Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger What a strange week it’s been. I’ve talked with three new clients, two of whom are referrals, and have started on one of the projects and completed another. I’ve also delivered a slam-dunk project for a favorite client, and I’m working on book edits for a…

7 responses to “4 Ways to Inject Confidence into Your Freelance Writing Negotiations”

KeriLynn Engel

February 18, 2016

This is a great topic, Lori. I still sometimes have a hard time with stuff like this, especially when it comes to long-time clients who I generally have a great relationship with.

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.
Cathy Miller

February 18, 2016

It is a great topic, Lori. Pushing back is even tougher when it's an existing or favored client but sometimes that occurs as well. And yes, there are concessions I'd make with a longtime client that I would not for a new or potential client.

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.
Damaria Senne

February 18, 2016

I had to find the confidence when I realized it was costing me money in lost opportunities to not push back when a client added work that was not included in the original agreement.

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.
Lori Widmer

February 18, 2016

Keri, you bring up an excellent point. You're being friendly, but it's not in your job description to become friends (unless you want to). It's sometimes tough to walk that knife edge between business friendly and friendship friendly. Do you accept that invitation to the barbecue? If you do, will it make it that much harder to say no? Where do you draw the line so that the line doesn't blur to a point where you're ineffective at your business?

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.
Paula Hendrickson

February 18, 2016

Last week a referral called me to discuss writing entries for his book. Sounded like fun, light work, and he didn't pay well, but it was work I could probably fit in now and then. I thought I was clear in saying I'd be glad to take on some assignments if they aren't too complex and I can fit them into my scheduled.

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.
Lori Widmer

February 19, 2016

That's a lot to ask of a writer on the first date, Paula. Mind you, I love having a client give me a pile of projects, but without a contract? Huh?

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.
Paula Hendrickson

February 20, 2016

Honestly? I don't want to bother with contacting him. At least not now while I'm neck deep in deadlines.