Making Money Writing | Know when to RUN!

6th January, 2010 - Posted by admin - 6 Comments


When you first get started making money writing, it’s just exciting getting any sort of gig whatsoever. It’s that initial proof that, “WOW! People will pay me to write!” and that’s cool.

But after a little while, you’ll run into a client or project that’s just… well, a total pain. Everyone runs into that – even if you’ve been writing for years. It’s a project that ends up ultimately paying you like a dollar an hour – or making you want to pull your hair out (or your client’s!).

Good thing God designed us to learn fast!

After some experience, you’ll be able to spot clients and projects that are just a BAD match. Maybe they’re super high-maintenance, grouchy and unpleasant, way out of touch with what’s needed to complete the project (and therefore not willing to pay anything near a fair rate), or just way out of integrity in the way they operate.

If you’re like most people, you’ll get that quiet little voice saying… RUN!!!!!

And if you’re like most, you’ll ignore it.

Then, down the road of misery, you’ll remember that you kind of sensed something amiss way back when you got started on this nightmare project… and that you didn’t pay attention.

An awesome writer I know, who used my system to get started, just ran into this situation. A client really jumped the gun by looking for a writer to handle all the writing needed for the business’ new website and promotion – but had NO marketing plan in place whatsoever. She wasn’t going to end up just doing the writing – she was going to have to walk the client through the whole process – an entirely different level of project fees. And we both got the sense there was nowhere near the funding available for what was really needed.

Run!!!

Now, the trick is not only listening to that voice, that gut feeling that says to high-tail it out of there. It’s also a matter of trusting it (and trusting that there are plenty of other projects and clients out there for you), and acting on it. That last part may involve an uncomfortable conversation. You can’t exactly say, “Well, I just feel in my gut like I should run fast and run far away from you and your project.”

You’ve got to come up with a system for running – so it’s not this big, drama-filled event.

Some suggestions:

  • I’m really sorry, but after some more consideration, I just don’t think this project will be a good match for my skills and interests.
  • My schedule is really full, and I don’t believe I’ll be able to devote the time and resources your project will need.

It’s a mini-breakup, and it feels awkward. But it’s a lot more awkward finding yourself trapped in a project you never should have gotten into.

What do YOU say in these situations? Do you listen to your gut? How’s that worked for you?

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6 Comments

Martha

January 6th, 2010 at 2:49 pm    


Sue, this was very interesting and I am hoping to get to that point. My first writing attempt was a bit negative – they started out at one price and then dropped it (per word), but I was ready to drop it.

admin

January 6th, 2010 at 2:53 pm    


You’ll definitely get there!! Just keep moving forward. The good thing with this is that with more experience, you can spot the “run away fast” projects faster and avoid them altogether.

jimmo

January 6th, 2010 at 5:30 pm    


My web site is under construction, so give me a break. Not long ago I coud not ever get on the web successfully with out the help of a teenager!
I have run into this problem as it is associated with commercial cooking equipment instalation!
I love your sense of humor and your easy style of writting! Thank you for sharing it! I am just starting to learn about this writtting thing! I like it! Still can not figure out how to get money rolling but we all have different learning curves. So I have learned not to be to hard on me! Besides I’m starting to like me! So I do enjoy your Writting!
jimmo

Allen

January 6th, 2010 at 8:05 pm    


One of the ways of dealing with this is reversing the roles during the bid process (a pre-closing gambit from the real estate people.)

Make your irresistible offer along the lines:

Doing what you want won’t be a problem, because I am the best there is, and here’s why… and these are the awesome benefits you’ll get… and you don’t risk a penny because I will shoulder all the risk… plus I’ll toss in a bonus… BUT…

There’s just one thing that is worrying me:

In my experience a project like that usually requires…(a lot of work) to… (be good / work for you / get you want you want.) You want it (the best you can get), don’t you?

Well, on average it will require (…) days of (…), and (…) days of (…), and (…) days of (…). The most laborious part will be getting (…). It’s rather involved, you see.
So, altogether it will approximately take # full (workdays/weeks) per (…) starting from scratch.

You are looking at… (many thousand US dollars) per (…) depending on (… / complexity.)

Are you really serious about it? And are you in a position to finance a project of this magnitude?

If you are serious. Then drop me an email and let’s discuss this further.

—-

Result:

You either get rid of the tire-kickers immediately or get them typing real’ fast to prove to you that they are indeed serious and have money to blow.

Further, this pulls them into a negotiation spiral where they are asking for your business and you play a reluctant seller and dictate prices.

admin

January 6th, 2010 at 9:34 pm    


Excellent approach, Allen : ) Love it!

sonny (Tribe)

January 15th, 2010 at 11:34 am    


HI Sue,
And thank you for the great letter, Hope you
warmed enough after your last letter,lol,
it is some cold for us Southern people,
we check ya later,
Sonny

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